Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-21

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 assigned process chart depict the manufacturing of sugar , beginning with the growing of sugar cane and ending with drying and cooling .

At ab-initio stage , sugar cane is planted and wait for 12 to 18 months for harvesting . After this , sugarcanes are chopped out . Following this , sugarcanes undergoes the crushing proces and juice is stored in the container.

Subsequently, juice is then purified which goes through limestone filter. Juice is heated and evaporated juice becomes syrup. In the penultimate stage , syrup goes through the centrifuge process , the sugar crystals are separated from syrup. In the last stage ,the sugar crystals are dried out and cooled out .

Overview, the sugar making process consists of several stages. If one of the steps cannot be missed and not be overlooked .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of the description. While the key features are identified, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the overall process. The final sentence is grammatically awkward and does not contribute to the task requirements. To improve, ensure you meet the word count by providing more detail on the transitions between stages and ensure the overview clearly highlights the cyclical or linear nature of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Following this', 'Subsequently'). The final paragraph is disjointed and lacks a clear connection to the preceding information. The transition between the description of the process and the overview is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical purpose that contributes to the overall flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'ab-initio stage' are misused in this context, and 'chopped out' or 'cooled out' are not the most natural collocations for an industrial process. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'sugar' and 'juice'. To improve, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to manufacturing, such as 'extraction', 'crystallization', or 'refinement', and ensure that collocations are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'sugarcanes undergoes' (subject-verb agreement), 'the crushing proces' (spelling), and 'If one of the steps cannot be missed and not be overlooked' (awkward phrasing and unclear meaning). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic spelling and punctuation errors. Increasing the variety of sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help raise your score.

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.