Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-27
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 given process chart depicts the information about the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane .
Overall, it is crystal clear that there are exactly 7 steps to complete the process . To commence with growing the crop of sugar cane in approximately 12 to 18 months . While in last step drying and cooling a sugar .
At a glance , initial step was cultivating the crop for approximately 12 to 18 months in a field . In second step sugar when canes are fully grown they are harvested by hands or by machines . After that these sugar canes are crushed by machines while the juice are separate and waste are removed . In next step the juice are purified by using limestone filter to remove a small particles of sugar cane .
Moving ahead , the purified juice are heated in evaporator because water was removed and the syrup of sugar place behind the surface . In penultimate step crystal of sugar are separated from syrup by centrifuge . In ultimate step sugar are placed for drying and cooled for few days for proper formation of sugar . Then the process chart start from the initial stage .
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 sugar manufacturing process, from cultivation to the final product. The overview is present but slightly awkward in its phrasing. While the main features are identified, the description of the process is somewhat repetitive and lacks a sophisticated synthesis of the information. For instance, the transition between steps is occasionally mechanical, and the explanation of the final stage is slightly unclear. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process more effectively and provides a more cohesive summary of the transformation from raw material to finished product.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally unnatural, such as 'Moving ahead' and 'In penultimate step'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the connection between the cooling process and the start of the cycle is confusing. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point back to the previous information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the process clearly. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'juice are separate' (should be 'separated') and 'syrup of sugar place behind the surface'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic terms like 'steps' and 'process'. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise technical terminology related to manufacturing processes and ensure that word forms (e.g., nouns vs. verbs) are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the juice are purified', 'crystal of sugar are separated') and incorrect article usage (e.g., 'a small particles'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor mechanical errors would significantly improve the overall accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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