Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 depicts the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, it is clear that, it consists of 7 stages. Starting from the growing stage of sugar canes to end up with the drying and cooling stage. Along with the step of crushing the sugar canes and producing juice from it.

Sugar canes take 12 -18 months to grow, after that farmers harvest the sugar canes by mechanical machines or by hand . Then it comes to crushed process, where sugar canes are crushing and produce juice. After that we use limestone filter to purify juice.

In the next step, we put juice in the evaporator, while giving a heat from the below, it converts into the form of syrup . In the sixth step, we passed our syrup through a centrifuge where sugar crystals are separated from the syrup. At the last, it is converted centrifuge into drying and cooling phase.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final drying and cooling phase. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear synthesis of the key features. While the steps are identified, the description of the process is a bit mechanical, and some details, such as the specific temperatures or the recycling of the syrup, are omitted. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process or the most significant transformations, rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'In the next step', 'In the sixth step', 'At the last'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final sentence where the phrasing 'it is converted centrifuge' is confusing and lacks a clear subject. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to the previous noun would enhance the flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the process. There are some attempts at technical terms like 'centrifuge', 'evaporator', and 'limestone filter', which is positive. However, there are several inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'crushed process' instead of 'crushing process' and 'giving a heat from the below' instead of 'applying heat from below'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and prepositions (e.g., 'sugar canes are crushing' instead of 'are crushed', 'at the last' instead of 'finally'). The sentence 'At the last, it is converted centrifuge into drying and cooling phase' is grammatically incoherent. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction would be beneficial.

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

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