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 illustration depicts the manufacturing process for making sugar form sugarcane. The process consist of 7 steps, ranging from growing sugarcane to drying and cooling sugar.

It can be noticed from diagram that firstly sugarcane is grown in fields and it takes 12 to 18 months to fully grown. then in next step, sugarcane is harvested either manually or by machines. Thereafter, the chopped sugarcane are put into a machine to extract juice in a tray.

In next step, the sugarcane juice is purified using a limestone filter funnel. Then the purified juice is heated until it became a thick syrup and all the water evaporates. Subsequently, the sugar syrup is spun in an centrifuge to separate all the sugar crystals from syrup. In the last step, sugar crystals are poured in an container and left for drying and cooling. The end result is sugar which is packed and sent to various stores for consumers to buy

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the process, from the initial growth of the sugarcane to the final packaging. The main features are identified, and the sequence is logical. However, the response lacks a clear 'overview' paragraph that highlights the most significant aspects of the process, such as the transition from raw agricultural product to refined industrial output. While the steps are described, the summary could be improved by grouping the stages more effectively (e.g., agricultural vs. industrial phases) to better demonstrate a clear overview of the process as a whole.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and the sequence of events is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'firstly', 'then', 'thereafter', and 'subsequently' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced; the second paragraph is quite long compared to the introduction. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the final steps could be improved to avoid a list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'purified', 'evaporates', and 'centrifuge'. There are some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'form' instead of 'from' and 'in an container' instead of 'in a container'. While the range is sufficient to describe the process, it lacks the more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would elevate the response to a higher band, such as using more varied verbs to describe the mechanical actions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The process consist of', 'sugarcane are put') and article usage ('in an centrifuge', 'in an container'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the overall understanding of the process. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on consistent subject-verb agreement and more accurate use of articles, as well as incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence structures.

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

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