Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08

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 provided diagram represents the production process of sugar from sugar cane. Overall, the sugar is produced from sugar cane in seven stages which includes sugar cane growth, harvesting, crushing, filtration, evaporation, crystal separation drying and cooling processes.

The sugar cane takes 12-18 months to achieve its proper growth and then it is harvested by farmers and harvesting machines. In the next step, sugar cane is crushed until its juice is produced, and then it is passed through filtration process. Juice is filtered out by using limestone filter which purifies the juice, and then it is brought into evaporator and beneath the evaporator there are fire flames where juice is converted into a liquid syrup. A centrifuge is placed which separates out sugar crystals from heated syrup. In the last step, the crystals are dried and then cooled down to room temperature which leads toward the formation of edible sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from growth to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview. However, the response is quite brief, and while it covers the requirements, it lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the information. To reach a higher band, ensure that you not only list the steps but also highlight the relationships between them more effectively. For example, you could have grouped the stages into logical phases (e.g., preparation, extraction, and refinement) to demonstrate a more analytical approach to the data provided in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. The use of transition words like 'In the next step' and 'In the last step' helps the reader follow the sequence. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the response is contained within one paragraph. A more effective structure would involve separating the introduction/overview from the detailed process description, or splitting the process into two distinct paragraphs based on the stages of production. This would improve the overall flow and clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'purifies', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'beneath the evaporator there are fire flames', which is a bit descriptive rather than technical. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations related to manufacturing processes. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'which includes sugar cane growth' (should be 'which include') and 'A centrifuge is placed which separates out' (which requires a comma before 'which'). Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'it is brought into evaporator'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over complex structures and articles to reach a higher band score.

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

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