Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 7 stages involved in the process of making sugar from sugarcane.

First and foremost, the sugarcane grew for nearly about 12 to 18 months until they are ready to be harvested. However, after growing properly sugarcane are harvested either by farmers or by machines after harvesting the sugarcane it goes through the process of crushing in which sugarcane are crushed and transformed into a juice by a machine. Afterwards, juice is purified in a limestone filter and sent for the process of evaporation in which juice is heated until it turns into syrup.Moreover, the syrup is sent for centrifuge and sugar crystals are being separated from syrup. Last but not the least, sugar crystals goes through the process of drying and cooling in which all the sugar is stored in a chamber and chamber make it dry and coll so it can be used directly after this process.

In conclusion, it is evident that there is a long and complex process involved in the making of sugar and a single mistake can halt the whole process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from harvesting to the final product. However, the overview is weak; it describes the process as 'long and complex' rather than highlighting the key technical stages or the transformation of the raw material. The inclusion of a personal opinion in the conclusion ('a single mistake can halt the whole process') is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which should remain objective and analytical. To improve, focus on grouping the stages more logically and providing a clear summary of the overall transformation process in the introduction or overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a reasonable structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by repetitive sentence structures and mechanical transitions. For example, the use of 'First and foremost', 'Afterwards', 'Moreover', and 'Last but not the least' feels formulaic. While the logical flow is generally easy to follow, the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague use of 'it' or 'they' when referring back to the sugarcane or the juice. More varied cohesive devices would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the process. However, there is a lack of precision and variety. Phrases like 'grew for nearly about' and 'make it dry and coll' (spelling error: cool) are somewhat informal or imprecise. The range is limited, relying on basic verbs like 'grew', 'harvested', and 'crushed'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'refinement', 'crystallization', and 'dehydration'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('sugarcane are harvested', 'sugarcane are crushed'), missing articles ('in a limestone filter'), and awkward phrasing ('chamber make it dry and coll'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing a process.

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

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