Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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 represnets the process of production of sugar from sugar cane with each step.

Overall,this process consist of seven steps. Which are labelled according to their working. The procerss start with the growinig of sugar cane crop and ends with drying and cooking it.

First step is to grow sugar cane crop in field for almost half of year. After that it is harvested by man or by machine. Next step in this process is to crushing the sugar cane to extract the juice from it. The forth step involves the filtring of juice to remove dust particles from it in order to provide high quality sugar.

After that their next step is to boil the juice at very high temprature so it become syrup. Then they move this syrup towards the centrifugal to seprate sugar crystal from syrup.And the last and final step of this whole procedure is to put the sugar crystals into a drum where they hve to become cool and dry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final drying stage. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic, and the description of the process lacks the necessary analytical depth required for a higher band. For instance, the mention of 'almost half of year' for growth is a specific detail, but the report lacks a clear synthesis of the transformation stages. The response identifies the steps but does not fully highlight the key features or make meaningful comparisons between the stages, such as the transition from raw material to refined product. To improve, focus on grouping related stages and providing a more cohesive summary of the entire manufacturing cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into a logical sequence, following the steps of the diagram. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with frequent use of 'Next step', 'After that', and 'Then'. Paragraphing is also problematic; the response is essentially one long block of text, which hinders readability. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'once the juice has been extracted') and ensure that your response is clearly divided into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group the process stages logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are several spelling errors, such as 'represnets', 'procerss', 'growinig', 'filtring', 'temprature', 'seprate', and 'hve'. These errors are frequent and occasionally distract the reader. While the student uses some process-specific vocabulary like 'harvested', 'crushing', 'extract', and 'centrifugal', the overall range is limited. To achieve a higher score, you must focus on accurate spelling and incorporate more sophisticated terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'purification', 'crystallisation', or 'evaporation'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'Which are labelled according to their working' (a sentence fragment) and 'The procerss start with...' (subject-verb agreement error). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. The frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation indicate a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for process descriptions (present simple), and reducing the frequency of basic errors in sentence construction.

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

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