Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28

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 manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the process consists of several stages, beginning with the growing of sugar cane and ending with the product known as sugar.

First, sugar cane plants are grown for 12 to 18 months and then are harvested either with a machine or by hands. These plants are then crushed with a machine to make juice. Once the juice is made, it is then purified with limestone filter to ensure that unwanted substances are filtered.

After the juice has been purified it is transferred to a pot where it is heated to make it a syrup. The next step involves centrifuge which is separation of sugar crystals from syrup. The crystals being still hot are placed in a container where they are dried and cooled. Finally, the completed product is formed from raw material like sugar cane plats to sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final product. However, it lacks a clear 'overview' paragraph that highlights the most significant features, such as the transformation from raw material to refined product or the cyclical nature of the process. While the steps are described, the response could be improved by grouping the stages more effectively (e.g., preparation, processing, and refining) rather than just listing them sequentially. The conclusion is slightly repetitive and does not add new insight into the process flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the initial stages from the later processing steps. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Once', 'After', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, the transition between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. The flow is generally clear, but the connection between the centrifuge stage and the drying stage could be smoother to improve the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crushed', 'purified', 'syrup', and 'centrifuge'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'by hands' (should be 'by hand') and 'completed product is formed from raw material like sugar cane plats to sugar'. The spelling error 'plats' for 'plants' is a minor slip, but overall, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly without significant difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'centrifuge which is separation of sugar crystals' (missing an article: 'the separation') and 'The crystals being still hot' (awkward participle phrase). Punctuation is generally correct, but some sentences could be refined for better flow. While there are errors, they do not impede communication, and the writer demonstrates a reasonable level of control over basic and some complex grammatical forms.

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

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