Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07
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 diagrammatic representation depicts the process of How sugar is produced from sugar cane.
Considering from an overall perspective, it can be apparently observed that this process contains seven consecutive steps. Initialize with caring of sugar cane and culminates with drying and cooling.
To begin with, In the first step, sugar cane growing for 12 to 18 months after when it's properly grown, it is harvested with the help of man power or a machines. In the further step, the harvested sugar cane moves under the process of crushing for making of juice. Afterwards, the juice is purified through limestone filter.
Furthermore, in the next step, the purified juice is properly heated for evaporation and the juice become syrup. And then the syrup send to the centrifuge for separating the sugar crystals from syrup and in the last step, the separated sugar undergo drying and cooling process and hence the sugar has obtained.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final cooling stage. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it simply states there are seven steps without highlighting the key transformation points or the nature of the process (e.g., mechanical vs. chemical). While the main features are identified, the description lacks detail in certain areas, such as the specific role of the centrifuge or the transition between heating and evaporation. To improve, ensure that the overview synthesizes the process rather than just counting the steps, and provide more descriptive detail for each stage to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 6 or 7.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Afterwards' provides a basic structure. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel forced. For instance, the phrase 'Initialize with caring of sugar cane' is awkward and disrupts the logical progression. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final sentence where the connection between the centrifuge and the final product could be more smoothly integrated. Improving the variety and naturalness of linking words would elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'caring of sugar cane' (likely meaning cultivation) and 'making of juice.' The use of 'man power' is slightly informal for an academic report. While the student successfully uses technical terms like 'centrifuge,' 'evaporation,' and 'purified,' the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction,' 'refinement,' and 'crystallization,' and avoid repetitive sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'sugar cane growing for 12 to 18 months after when it's properly grown' (run-on/fragment issues) and 'the syrup send to the centrifuge' (missing auxiliary verb). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the sugar has obtained' instead of 'is obtained.' While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on verb tenses and passive voice construction would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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