Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

How sugar is produced from sugar cane

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The rendered pictorial representation depicts the manufacturing process of making sugar from sugar cane

To commence with, firstly, Sugar canes are grown for 12-18 months for Harvesting, it can be done by hand or a machine after that Sugar canes are inserted into a crushing machine to separate juice thereafter the obtained juice is transferred into a Limestone filter to purify juice

Probing ahead with remaining details, subsequently, the heating of juice process is done in Evaporator to get syrup from juice in the next step, the obtained syrup is moved to Centrifuge to separate sugar crystals from syrup Lastly, the attained sugar goes from Drying and cooling process to gain sugar

Overall, it is crystal clear that all steps are really important to make sugar from sugarcane each and every step have own their importance

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the report covers the main stages of the sugar production process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the response. The overview is also weak, as it merely states that the steps are important rather than summarizing the key stages of the process (e.g., the transformation from raw cane to refined sugar). To improve, you should aim to provide a more comprehensive description of each stage and ensure the overview highlights the main trends or stages of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'To commence with, firstly', 'Probing ahead', 'subsequently', 'in the next step'). The flow between sentences feels disjointed at times. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases more naturally to connect ideas. Additionally, ensure that your paragraphing is logical; currently, the transition between the initial growth phase and the industrial processing phase could be better managed to improve the overall progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher score. Phrases like 'rendered pictorial representation' are slightly unnatural in this context. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'gain sugar' instead of 'produce sugar' or 'obtain the final product'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'purification', 'crystallization', and 'refinement', rather than relying on simpler verbs like 'get' or 'make'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For instance, there are issues with capitalization ('Sugar canes', 'Evaporator', 'Drying'), punctuation, and subject-verb agreement ('each and every step have own their importance'). Some sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which affects readability. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structure, ensuring correct capitalization, and refining your use of articles and prepositions. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help you reach a higher band.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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