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 diagram given below illustrates the process of making sugar form sugar cane step by step in a simple way

Overall in the diagram it is clearly shown that there are 7 steps to get sugar from sugar can in a processed way

first of all the sugarcanes is grown for 12 to 18 months in the fields. After the growth the sugarcanes. Sugarcanes are harvested for the third procedure where it crushed to take out the juice from it. In addition to that the saturated juice is then sent to limestone filter to purify it. After purification juice is sent to a jar called evaporator where the juice is converted in syrup after giving the heat. Following this the syrup is poured into centrifuge where it separates sugar crystals form syrup. At the end of process the syrup is sent to a container where syrup is dried and cooled to get sugar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from growing the sugar cane to the final product. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it merely states the number of steps rather than highlighting the key features or the nature of the process (e.g., that it is a multi-stage industrial transformation). While all stages are mentioned, the description lacks detail in terms of the inputs and outputs at each stage, such as the role of the limestone filter or the specific temperature changes. To improve, you should provide a more analytical summary of the process flow rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized chronologically, which is appropriate for a process description. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the stages. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'first of all', 'in addition to', and 'following this', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The lack of clear paragraph breaks between the introduction, the overview, and the body stages limits the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of repetitive phrasing, such as using 'sugar' and 'syrup' repeatedly without variation. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'sugar form sugar cane' (should be 'from') and 'sugarcanes' (the noun is usually uncountable in this context). To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'purification', and 'crystallisation'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors, such as 'the sugarcanes is grown' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'the juice is converted in syrup after giving the heat' (awkward phrasing and preposition error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several missing commas that would help clarify the sentence structure. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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

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