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 illustrates the sugar manufacturing process from sugar canes.

Overall, there are seven stages to the production process, starting with growing and harvesting sugar canes to separating sugar crystals from syrup and drying & cooling them.

At first, the sugar canes are grown and after around 12 to 18 month, they are harvested using both manual and technical methods. These are then crushed into machines to get the fresh juice out of it. later, the juice is purified using a limestone filter.

In the following stages, the purified juice is heated in an evaporator where it turns into a kind of a syrup which is one of the main ingredients. Furthermore, a process similar to fermentation takes place which is centrifuge. Here basically it separates the sugar crystals from syrup. Finally. these crystals re dried and cooled which turns into the sugar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. Because the response is under-length, it is penalized under Task Achievement. While the overview is present and the stages are identified, the description lacks sufficient detail in certain areas, such as the specific machinery used or the final output. To improve, ensure all steps are described with enough detail to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive summary of the process flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'At first', 'In the following stages', 'Finally'). There are also issues with punctuation, such as the sentence fragment 'Finally. these crystals re dried', which disrupts the flow of information. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that punctuation is used correctly to connect ideas smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'kind of a syrup' and 'basically it separates' are too informal for an Academic Task 1 report. There are also minor spelling errors, such as 're dried' instead of 'are dried'. To improve, focus on using more precise, academic terminology related to manufacturing processes, such as 'extraction', 'crystallization', or 'by-product', and avoid conversational fillers.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'after around 12 to 18 month' (should be plural 'months'), 'crushed into machines' (preposition error), and the aforementioned punctuation error in the final paragraph. Subject-verb agreement and article usage also need attention. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensure that complex sentences are constructed correctly without missing auxiliary verbs or incorrect prepositions.

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

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