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 diagram represents a seven step process which tells how sugar is produced from sugar cane.

Overall, the process is linear and consists of 7 stages, starting with growing sugar cane and ending with producing dried sugar.

The process begins with growing of sugar cane which takes about 12-18 months in ripening. After that, it is harvested either by machine or by hand. In the next stage, it goes through crushing process which converts it in the juice.

Once the juice is extracted, this is poured into a limestone filter for purification of that juice. Subsequently, this juice is heated in an evaporator which results in a clean syrup and then with the help of centrifuge, crystals of sugar are separated from syrup. Finally, the end product is obtained after drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the depth of the report. While the key features are identified, the description lacks the necessary detail to fully satisfy the task requirements. For instance, the transition between stages is mentioned, but the explanation of the physical changes (such as the role of the centrifuge or the specific nature of the syrup) is quite brief. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of each stage to ensure a more comprehensive summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'After that', 'In the next stage', 'Once', and 'Subsequently' to sequence the steps. While these are functional, the progression is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the transition between sentences feels more natural. The overall structure is sound, but the limited length prevents a more sophisticated development of ideas and cohesive flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'harvested', 'purification', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'converts it in the juice' (should be 'into') and 'growing of sugar cane' (the article 'the' is missing). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns related to industrial processes would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'tells how sugar is produced' (a more formal approach would be 'illustrates the process of sugar production') and 'converts it in the juice'. Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'in ripening' instead of 'during the ripening phase'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on article usage and prepositional accuracy, and try to incorporate more varied complex sentence structures to demonstrate greater control.

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

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