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 image depicts the step-by-step process to manufacture sugar from the sugar cane. This is a 7-step process receiving sugar as the final product.
Initially, the sugar cane takes around 12-18 months to grow and become mature for further process. It is then harvested, which can be done by two ways. Firstly, it can be performed through mechanical equipments, which takes less manual effort. Secondly, an agricultural worker or a farmer does it manually. It follows to the process of crushing the sugar cane and extracting the juice from it. This juice is then passed through a limestone filter for the purification. Then comes the evaporator. It has the fire underneath, which heats the purified juice, extracting the moisture and turning the juice into thick syrup. This syrup keeps on spinning in a centrifuge, separating the solid sugar crystals from the syrup. These crystals goes for drying and cooling, which takes a while and giving the sugar as a final product.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all stages of the process, from the growth of the sugar cane to the final product. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the main features, which is a requirement for a high band score. While the steps are described, the response reads more like a list of actions rather than a cohesive summary of a manufacturing process. To improve, you should include an introductory sentence that highlights the key stages or the nature of the process (e.g., 'The process involves several stages, beginning with cultivation and ending with the production of refined sugar'). The information is generally accurate, but the lack of a clear overview limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically sequenced, following the chronological order of the diagram. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is written as a single block of text. For a process description, it is better to group stages into logical paragraphs (e.g., cultivation and harvesting, followed by processing). While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initially', 'Firstly', and 'Then', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the harvesting methods and the industrial processing could be smoother to improve the overall readability and logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the process clearly. You use some relevant technical terms like 'centrifuge', 'evaporator', and 'purification'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'mechanical equipments' is incorrect as 'equipment' is an uncountable noun. Additionally, 'receiving sugar as the final product' is slightly unnatural; 'yielding sugar as the final product' would be more precise. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'refinement', or 'subsequent'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'These crystals goes for drying', where the subject-verb agreement is incorrect ('crystals' is plural, so it should be 'go'). Another error is 'It follows to the process', which is grammatically awkward; 'This is followed by the process' would be better. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and more varied sentence structures will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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