Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The Diagram elucidates the various stages involved in the production of sugar , from the initial starting step to the final outcome .

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the process is a cyclical sequence comprising 7 main stages. It begins with the Growing and culminates in the Drying and cooling . In the initial stage of the process, Growing . Following this, the Harvesting is then Crunching. Subsequently, Purifying juice , which leads to Evaporator(juice become syrup) . Turning to the remaining steps, the process continues when Evaporator. After being [Step 6 action], the [Subject] is then subjected to centrifuge. Finally, the entire operation concludes when Drying and cooling .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. Furthermore, the content is underdeveloped. While you identify the process as having seven stages, you do not describe the steps accurately. For example, you mention 'Harvesting is then Crunching', which is factually incorrect based on the diagram, and you leave placeholders like '[Step 6 action]' and '[Subject]', indicating an incomplete response. To improve, you must describe each stage of the process clearly and ensure the summary is complete and accurate according to the provided visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay attempts to use cohesive devices such as 'Following this', 'Subsequently', and 'Turning to the remaining steps', but these are often used with incorrect or incomplete information. The paragraphing is insufficient, as the entire response is presented as one block of text. The logical progression is hindered by the fact that the steps are not clearly explained or linked to the actual process shown in the diagram. To improve, ensure that each stage is described in a logical sequence and use cohesive devices to connect the stages smoothly rather than just listing them.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on the words provided in the prompt (e.g., 'Growing', 'Harvesting', 'Drying and cooling'). There is little evidence of an attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe the industrial process. Additionally, the phrasing 'juice become syrup' is grammatically awkward and lacks the precision required for a technical description. To improve, try to use more descriptive verbs and nouns related to manufacturing processes, such as 'extracting', 'refining', 'crystallisation', and 'separation'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors and incomplete sentence structures. For instance, 'juice become syrup' lacks the necessary verb tense, and the sentence 'In the initial stage of the process, Growing' is a fragment. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the overall control of grammar is weak. To improve, focus on writing complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs. Practice using passive voice, which is essential for describing processes (e.g., 'The sugar cane is harvested...'), and ensure subject-verb agreement throughout your writing.

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.