Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03

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 5.0)

The given flowchart is about the producing of sugar from sugar cane.

Initially, the flowchart consists of seven different stages.

The first stage is growing sugar cane followed by second stage which is harvesting.

Furthermore, crushing is the third stage and purifying juice is shown in the forth stage.

Additionally, centrifuge is converted into drying and cooling.

Overall, the picture is about producing sugar from sugar cane and it contains numerous stages. Its start from growing sugar cane to drying and cooling sugar. The procedure is going smoothly through various changing.

Firstly, we should grow sugar canes for 12 to 18 months, afterward harvest all of these sugar canes and load into the truck.

Moreover, the third stage is crushing the sugar canes, make sure that the sugar canes are passing through cutting machine, thereafter the sugar canes are converted into juice.

The forth stage is purifying juice, through filter , Filter is extremely compulsory foe purifying juice. Meanwhile the fifth stage is about evaporation, in this step we drop the juice of sugar into container and heat is must provide below the container, therefore heat is passing through the top hole.

Centrifuge is the sixth stage, by this step we should separate various crystals from the syrup of sugar. Ultimately, drying and cooling the sugar and drop into the box.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, but the description is often inaccurate or confusing. For instance, stating that 'centrifuge is converted into drying and cooling' misinterprets the diagram, as these are distinct stages. The overview is repetitive and lacks a clear summary of the overall process, such as the transformation from raw material to finished product. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in describing the mechanical steps (e.g., 'drop the juice of sugar into container') prevents a higher score. To improve, focus on accurately describing the transformation at each stage rather than just listing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The introduction and overview are repetitive, and the transition between stages is often mechanical or confusing. For example, the phrase 'Additionally, centrifuge is converted into drying and cooling' does not logically connect the steps. While some cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Ultimately' are used, they are often applied in a way that does not reflect the actual sequence of the process. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group the stages of the process in a logical or thematic way.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. There is frequent reliance on basic verbs like 'grow', 'make', and 'drop', which do not accurately describe industrial processes. Some word choices are unnatural or incorrect, such as 'extremely compulsory' and 'the producing of sugar'. There are also issues with word forms, such as 'forth' instead of 'fourth'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, process-oriented vocabulary such as 'extract', 'refine', 'crystallize', and 'subsequent'. The current range is sufficient for basic communication but lacks the precision required for an academic task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with article usage ('the centrifuge', 'the filter'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. For example, 'Its start from growing sugar cane' should be 'It starts with the growing of sugar cane'. Many sentences are simple or awkwardly constructed, such as 'heat is must provide below the container'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the use of a wider range of complex structures.

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

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