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)

The picture shows how sugar is make from sugar cane plant in seven different steps.

Overall, there is seven main stages in this process for making sugar. It starts from growing sugar canes in field and it finishes with drying and cooling sugar for people to use.

First step, sugar cane grows in field for 12 to 18 months long time. Second step, farmers or big tractor machines harvest the sugar cane from field. Third step, sugar cane go to crushing machine and this machine make juice from the sugar cane.

After that, in step four, the juice is purified with limestone filter. Then in step five, purified juice goes to evaporator machine with big heat and the juice becomes thick syrup. Next, in step six, centrifuge machine separates sugar crystals from the syrup. Finally, last step is drying and cooling for sugar in big container. After all these steps, sugar is ready for people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the sugar production process. You have covered the seven steps from cultivation to the final product. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, relying on a list-like structure (e.g., 'First step', 'Second step') rather than a fluid description of the process. To reach a higher band, you should aim to group stages more logically and use more sophisticated language to describe the transitions between steps. While all key features are present, the overview is basic and could be more effectively integrated into the introduction or as a standalone summary of the entire transformation process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'First step', 'Second step', and 'Third step' are used at the beginning of almost every sentence, which makes the writing feel simplistic. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases, such as 'subsequently', 'following this', 'once the process is complete', or 'the next phase involves'. Improving the flow between sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'make', 'big', and 'machine' repeatedly. For instance, instead of 'make juice', you could use 'extract juice', and instead of 'big heat', 'high temperatures' would be more appropriate. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'sugar cane plant' (sugar cane is sufficient) and 'for 12 to 18 months long time'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more technical terms related to manufacturing processes would help you achieve a higher score.

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 subject-verb agreement issues ('there is seven main stages', 'sugar cane go to crushing machine') and missing articles ('in field', 'with limestone filter'). Additionally, the phrasing 'how sugar is make' is incorrect; it should be 'how sugar is made'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity and professional tone of the report. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and article usage will lead to immediate improvement.

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

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