Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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 below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from the sugar cane. According to the diagram, it shows the growing process of the sugar cane which is the initial step and it takes almost about 12-18 months for the sugar cane to grow proper and ready to harvest.

Second part of the process comes with the harvesting of the sugar cane which occurs possibly through two methods.

Harvesting by hand: The first one is harvesting the sugar cane with the help of any sharp blade which is also a most common method used widely since ages.

Harvesting by Harvester/Harvesting Machine: As time passes, new technology get introduced which results in the manufacturing of highly productive harvesting machines which are being used these days.

Third Step; Crushing: In this process, we passes the raw sugar cane through crusher like machine which separates the sugar cane and crush out all its juice separately.

Fourth Step; Purification: According to chart, In this process we purify the sugar cane juice by passing it through a funnel type tube or filter which purify its by separating any tiny particals and the limestone liquid collects separately.

Step Five; Heating Process: According the diagram, moving forward to the next phase we heat the sugar cane liquid on a set temperature so the excess water evaporates and the juice become syrup.

Step Six: After the heating process we add the syrup into spinner shaped machine called Centrifuge which spins for a set amount of time until the sugar crystals get separated from the syrup.

Seven & the last step: After the sugar crystals get separated we added the sugar crystals into the container for drying a cooling process and after its been dryed, sugar is ready by passes through the whole journey of becoming sugar from the sugar cane.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main stages of the sugar production process. However, the response is written in a narrative, step-by-step style rather than an analytical report. To improve, you should provide an overview of the entire process in the introduction, highlighting the transformation from raw material to finished product. While you covered the steps, the response lacks a cohesive summary of the overall process flow. Additionally, the inclusion of personal commentary, such as 'we passes the raw sugar cane', is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective, impersonal tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into a list-like structure, which is not ideal for an academic report. While you use headings like 'Third Step' and 'Fourth Step', this approach is mechanical and lacks the sophisticated linking required for higher bands. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transitions between paragraphs are repetitive. To improve, use cohesive devices such as 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'once the juice has been extracted' to create a more natural flow between the stages of the process rather than relying on numbered labels.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for describing the process, but it is somewhat repetitive and informal. Phrases like 'crusher like machine' and 'funnel type tube' are imprecise. You also rely heavily on basic verbs like 'get' and 'add'. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise technical terminology relevant to the diagram, such as 'crushed', 'filtered', 'evaporated', and 'crystallised'. Avoid informal phrasing like 'since ages' or 'as time passes', as these are not suitable for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement and verb forms (e.g., 'we passes', 'juice become syrup', 'its been dryed'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence variety. To improve, focus on using passive voice constructions, which are essential for process descriptions (e.g., 'the juice is heated' instead of 'we heat the juice'). Additionally, ensure consistent tense usage; since you are describing a permanent process, the present simple tense should be used throughout.

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

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