Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-30

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 illustration presents the stages of manufacturing process. it shows how the sugar cane is produce from sugar.

Overall, at a glance, it has 7 stages, starting at growing of the sugar canes and ended at drying and cooling sugar.

Initially, the seeds are cultivated, which take 12-18 months to fully grown as sugar canes. This is followed with the harvesting of canes using harvesting machines and manual labour. After which

the canes are pulled down into the crushing machine so that canes are crushed to produce juice. In the next stage, juice is passed through the limestone filter for purification.

Moving Further in the process, purified juice is heated on burner to evaporates. Following which juice is converted into syrup. Then after, juice is reached to centrifuge, where sugar crystals are separated from juice. Finally, sugar is stored in a drum for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a clear overview of the process, identifying the main stages from cultivation to final storage. However, the task achievement is negatively impacted by the word count being below the 150-word minimum. Additionally, the opening sentence contains a significant factual error, stating 'sugar cane is produce from sugar' instead of the reverse. While the main features are highlighted, the description of the process is somewhat mechanical and lacks the depth required for a higher band. To improve, ensure all factual information is accurate and expand on the descriptions of the stages to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'This is followed by', 'Moving further', and 'Finally' are used to signal the progression of the stages. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases rather than relying on simple sequence markers. Overall, the structure is coherent, but the cohesion could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the manufacturing process clearly. Terms like 'cultivated', 'harvesting', 'purification', and 'centrifuge' are used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as 'sugar cane is produce' (should be 'produced') and 'juice is reached to centrifuge' (should be 'the juice is sent to the centrifuge'). The range is somewhat limited, and the errors in word form and collocation prevent a higher score. Expanding the range of 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 throughout the text, such as 'growing of the sugar canes and ended at drying' (parallelism error), 'juice is heated on burner to evaporates' (incorrect verb form), and 'canes are pulled down' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of the writing. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct verb tenses, and consistent use of articles.

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

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