Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The cyclic diagram illustrates different stages of sugar manufacturing from sugar cane.

Overall, the cycle consists of seven multiple steps which are growing, harvesting, crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifugation and lastly drying and cooling.

Initially, beginning with growing of sugar canes and usually this period lasts 12 to 18 months. Followed by harvesting, this can be done in two ways either by using harvester or cutting by farmers. And to obtain juice, sugar canes have been crushed and this is led to the limestone filter for purification purpose. The heating evaporator is used so that juice transform into syrup.

Finally, syrup is led to centrifuge so that sugar crystals separated. Additionally, after drying and cooling sugar crystals are obtained and then, available in markets for used either in home or commercially. Although, this manufacturing process takes time, this is efficient method.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a clear overview of the process and identifies the main stages. However, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the key stages are mentioned, the description lacks the necessary detail and depth required for a higher band. For instance, the transition between the purification and evaporation stages is described very briefly. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of the mechanical processes involved, such as how the juice is filtered or how the centrifuge separates the crystals, to ensure the response is sufficiently developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Followed by', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as a single block of text, which hinders the visual structure of the report. To improve, ensure you use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction/overview from the body paragraphs. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the steps more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using subject-specific terms like 'purification', 'evaporation', 'centrifugation', and 'syrup'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'multiple steps which are growing' and 'available in markets for used'. These errors do not impede communication but prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and ensuring that your word forms are grammatically correct in context. Expanding your range of synonyms for process-related verbs would also 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, such as 'sugar canes have been crushed' (should be 'are crushed' for a general process) and 'this is led to' (should be 'it is led to'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in markets for used'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on maintaining consistent tense usage—specifically the present simple for describing processes—and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement.

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.