Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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 diagram illustrates the information about the production of sugar from sugar cane crop.

Looking from an overall perspective, the process involves seven stages, starting with the growth period of crop, agricultural steps, industrial processing such as filtering, evaporating, separating and final product.

After taking the statistical data into account, it may be inferred that the growth period of sugar cane involves 12 to 18 months time period and then harvested with the help of harvesting machinery or by labour with hand machinery. Moreover, then the two wheels machinery crush the sugar canes for making juice and then the juice is filleted for removing impurities with the help of limestone filter.

Turning toward the rest of the detail, it can be clearly seen that pure juice is then evaporated with maintaining heat temperature to produce syrup.

After this, the syrup is spinned in circular direction by centrifuge to separate sugar crystals from syrup. Finally, by drying and cooling the final product sugar is ready,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from growth to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the growth duration and the key industrial steps. However, the overview is slightly cluttered by listing every single stage rather than highlighting the broader trends or the nature of the process (e.g., a linear sequence involving agricultural and mechanical phases). To reach a higher band, ensure the overview captures the 'big picture' more effectively. The inclusion of specific details like '12 to 18 months' and 'limestone filter' demonstrates a good grasp of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of production. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Turning toward', and 'After this' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is weak; the entire body of the report is contained within one long paragraph, which hinders readability. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, use clear paragraph breaks to separate the agricultural phase from the industrial processing phase, and ensure that your linking words flow more naturally within the sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'impurities', 'centrifuge', and 'harvesting machinery'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'filleted' is incorrect in this context (it refers to fish); 'filtered' would be the correct term. Similarly, 'spinned' is non-standard; 'spun' is the correct past participle. The phrase 'hand machinery' is also slightly contradictory. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise technical verbs and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'the growth period of crop' lacks an article ('the' or 'a'), and 'maintaining heat temperature' is awkward phrasing. There are also punctuation issues, such as ending the final sentence with a comma instead of a period. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage to improve accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.