Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-06

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 outlines the stages which are involved in the manufacturing process of sugar from sugar cane.

First of all sugar cane's growth process takes 12 to 18 months after that harvesting begins which will be of two types the traditional one in which humans themselves cut the crops and the new process which will be completed through machinery. Then the harvested sugar canes are passed through a machine which converts them into juice.

The juice which is produced by the crushing process requires filtration which is done by limestone filter. After the purification process, the juice requires heat for evaporation which converts it into syrup. The syrup has sugar crystals which have to be separated by performing centrifuge after all these efforts finally sugar is entered in its final stages which are only drying and cooling. The manufacturing process of sugar from sugar cane is completed and now it is ready to be sold in the market.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from growth to the final product. However, it lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. While the steps are described, the response fails to highlight the key features or make meaningful comparisons between the two harvesting methods mentioned. The description is somewhat mechanical, simply listing steps rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, you should include an introductory overview that identifies the main stages and ensures the most significant features are clearly highlighted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive (e.g., 'First of all', 'Then', 'After'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to show the relationship between the stages. For example, instead of starting every sentence with a time-based connector, you could use more sophisticated structures to connect the purification and evaporation phases.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on simple verbs like 'passed', 'converts', and 'requires'. There is little attempt to use more academic or technical vocabulary related to industrial processes (e.g., 'extraction', 'refinement', 'crystallization'). Furthermore, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'sugar is entered in its final stages', which sounds unnatural. Expanding your range of process-related terminology will significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For instance, 'sugar cane's growth process takes 12 to 18 months after that harvesting begins' lacks proper punctuation, leading to a run-on sentence. There are also issues with article usage ('the traditional one', 'the new process') and verb tense consistency. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundaries and subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.

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

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