Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19

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 illustrates the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane . there are seven steps of produced sugar from sugar cane . on the very first , the crops of sugar cane sprout in the fields and growing for 12-18 months . secondly , when the grew up the farmers harvest them with hands or mechanically with machines . then put the harvested sugar cane in a crushing machine and suck all the juice from inside . after that , for purifying juice put it into limestone filter when juice is purified , put it into a heating Evaporator where sugar cane juice becomes syrup . in the second last process , where juice become syrup centrifuge it in a cool place and separates sugar crystals from syrup . At the end , put the sugar crystals into a container and waited for drying and cooling . after this sugar from sugar cane is ready for manufacturing .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the sugar production process, from the initial growth of the sugar cane to the final drying stage. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the main features, which is a requirement for Band 6 and above. The description is purely sequential, listing steps without highlighting the key phases (e.g., preparation, extraction, purification, and crystallization). While the information is accurate, the lack of an introductory summary and the tendency to simply list steps rather than synthesizing the process limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized chronologically, which provides a basic logical flow. However, the paragraphing is non-existent, as the entire response is written as a single block of text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'secondly', 'then', and 'after that', but they are often used mechanically or with incorrect punctuation. The lack of paragraph breaks makes the text feel repetitive and hinders the overall progression of ideas. To improve, you should group the steps into logical paragraphs, such as one for the agricultural stage and one for the industrial processing stage.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the process, but it is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'put it into' are used multiple times, which lacks precision. There are also some awkward word choices, such as 'suck all the juice' (a more formal term would be 'extract') and 'the crops of sugar cane sprout' (the diagram shows the growth phase). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated terminology related to industrial processes, which prevents a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. There are issues with verb tenses ('when the grew up'), subject-verb agreement ('there are seven steps of produced sugar'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the misuse of commas and the lack of capitalization at the start of sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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