Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31

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 process diagram provides the information about the production of sugar, from the sugar cane.

Overall, sugar production mainly take place in seven steps. Starting from the growing and conclude at the drying and cooling step.

The first step is growing, it usually takes 12-18 month from cultivation to yield, and the second stage is the harvesting stage usually harvesting mainly done either by using thresher machine or simple harvest manually (by hand labor). The next stage is the crushing, in this stage farmer put the raw sugar cane into the machine and machine eventually separates the juice and husk. The juice is then purify by using limestone filter, which is followed by the evaporator. By heating, juice converted into syrup in the evaporator tank, which is then passes from the centrifuge machine, the function of centrifuge is to separate the sugar crystals from syrup. The last step is the drying and cooling, after this final step sugar is ready to transport to the market.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the process from growing to the final product. The overview is clear, identifying the seven-step nature of the process. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more analytical approach to the 'main features' or comparisons. For instance, the transition between stages is described sequentially without highlighting the transformation of the raw material effectively. While all parts of the prompt are addressed, the development is basic and relies heavily on listing steps rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized logically, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraph is quite dense. Cohesive devices are present (e.g., 'The first step', 'The next stage', 'The last step'), but they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The flow between sentences is generally clear, but the lack of varied linking words makes the progression feel a bit simplistic. The overall arrangement is coherent, but the use of cohesive devices could be more sophisticated to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the process clearly. Terms like 'cultivation', 'centrifuge', and 'evaporator' are used correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and precision in word choice. Phrases such as 'farmer put the raw sugar cane into the machine' are quite informal and simplistic. There are also minor errors in word form, such as 'juice is then purify' (should be 'purified') and 'machine eventually separates' (should be 'the machine'). A wider range of vocabulary would be needed for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('sugar production mainly take place'), missing articles ('from the sugar cane' is unnecessary, 'by using limestone filter' should be 'a limestone filter'), and tense inconsistencies. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, the student should focus on article usage, verb forms, and ensuring subject-verb agreement in complex sentences.

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

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