Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-22

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)

Sugar cane is grown by planting sugar cane sticks in the soil and watering them as needed. Growing sugar cane can takes upto 12 to 18 months. Once sugar canes are matured then comes the phase of harvesting . There are two may methods to harvest sugar cane, one is by using the machinery and the other is farmers do it themselves.

After harvesting comes the crushing of the sugar canes, in this process the suagar canes are crushed to extarct the juice which leaves the waste bagasse. After extracting the juice is then passed the limestone filter to purify and remove the remaining impurities.

Then the purified juice is processed through the evaporator, this is a large trunk which is constantly heated on high flame for some time which transforms the juice into syrup .

Then comes the process of centrufge, separating the sugar crystals from the syrup. The syrup is put in a high speed rotating container, the centrufugal force separates the sugar from syrup when the motor is rotating the container.

At last the separated sugar crystals are dried and cooled and this is the sugar we all use in our day to day life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. However, the report lacks an overview or summary of the process, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. The description is largely a chronological list of steps rather than a cohesive report. While the key stages are identified, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach, such as grouping the stages into logical phases (e.g., preparation, extraction, and purification). The inclusion of the cultivation stage is relevant, but the focus should remain primarily on the industrial manufacturing process depicted in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized chronologically, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the text is presented in a way that lacks clear logical breaks between the different stages of production. While some cohesive devices like 'After harvesting' and 'Then' are used, they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a distinct phase of the process to improve the overall flow and structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'harvesting', 'crushing', 'purify', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' used correctly. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'extarct', 'suagar', and 'centrufuge' (repeated as 'centrufugal'). These errors, while not impeding communication, indicate a lack of precision. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited; using more sophisticated synonyms or descriptive phrases would elevate the score. For example, instead of 'large trunk', a more technical term like 'vessel' or 'container' would be more appropriate for a process description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'Growing sugar cane can takes upto' (should be 'can take up to') and 'the juice is then passed the limestone filter' (missing 'through'). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage will help improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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