Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-23

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 following diagram illustrates the step by step method to manufacture sugar from sugarcane.

Overall, seven stops are involved to finish the process. The process begins with the plantation and ends at drying and cooling procedure to obtain sugar as a final product.

The technique starts with the plantation of sugarcanes in the fields for a year. In the next step, such plantation is harvested with the use of harvesters or manual labor. Furthermore, It is transported to crusher for crushing the sugarcanes and extracting sugarcane juice.

In the next step, The obtained liquid is sent to a purifier where fluid and pulp is separated. Moreover, The liquid is boiled at very high temperature in evaporator and syrup is obtained. Subsequently, The sugar crystals are extracted from the sugar syrup in the centrifuge. Finally, sugar crystal are dried and cooled which leads to the final formation of sugar and is further transferred to the market where consumers can purchase it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from plantation to the final product. The overview is clear, identifying the seven stages and the start and end points. However, the report could be improved by including more specific comparisons or highlighting key features more effectively. For instance, the transition from raw material to the final product is described, but the mechanical nature of the process could be emphasized more strongly to meet the requirements of a higher band. Overall, the information is accurate and relevant to the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the next step', 'Furthermore', and 'Subsequently' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of capitalization after commas (e.g., 'In the next step, The obtained...') is a mechanical error that disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the connection between sentences could be smoother to achieve a more natural, professional tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crusher', 'purifier', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'such plantation' which is slightly unnatural in this context. The vocabulary is functional but does not demonstrate a wide range of less common lexical items or idiomatic control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly regarding article usage (e.g., 'transported to crusher' instead of 'to a crusher') and pluralization (e.g., 'sugar crystal are dried'). Additionally, there are persistent punctuation and capitalization errors, such as unnecessary capitalization after commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.

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

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