Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-29
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 diagram illustrats the whole process in which sugar is produced from sugar cane.
Overall, the production of sugar is based on the seven major steps. After the growth of sugar cane in the fields, it delivered to the industry after the cutting of sugar canes by man or machines. The factories pass it from many stages and then the manufactured sugar are ready to consume after drying and cooling.
Initially, sugar canes were grown for 12 to 18 months by the farmers when it become ready for cutting, the harvesting are done by human beings or by machines. Afterward, all the harvested canes deliver for the crushing in this stage these put into the machine from one side and juice become out from the other side.
In the fourth stage, the limestone filter is used to purify juice and the evaporation done by high flam after that purified juice become syrup. The centrifuge helps to seperate sugar crystals from syrup and at that step sugar is almost ready. All the produced sugar put in a container for drying and cooling.
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 the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final product. The overview identifies the seven-step nature of the process, which is a good start. However, the description of the stages is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical comparison. For instance, the transition between the crushing and purification stages is a bit abrupt. While all key features are mentioned, the response would benefit from a more precise description of the inputs and outputs at each stage, such as explicitly mentioning the separation of sugar and molasses during the centrifuge stage. The summary is accurate but could be more concise to allow for better flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. The use of cohesive devices like 'Initially', 'Afterward', and 'In the fourth stage' provides a clear sequence. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'these put into the machine', where 'these' lacks a specific antecedent. The paragraphing is sufficient, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages more fluidly rather than relying on simple chronological markers.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, covering the necessary technical terms like 'crushing', 'evaporation', 'centrifuge', and 'purify'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'illustrats' (spelling), 'high flam' (high heat/flame), and 'juice become out' (juice is extracted). The range is somewhat limited, and the student relies on basic verbs. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'extracted', 'subsequently', 'subjected to', or 'yields', to describe the manufacturing process more professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('the harvesting are done', 'sugar canes were grown', 'all the produced sugar put') and article usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. The student attempts to use passive voice, which is appropriate for a process description, but the execution is inconsistent. Improving control over verb tenses and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.