Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-10

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 figure demonstrates the steps involved in production process of sugar from sugarcane.

The diagram clearly shows the different steps involved in production of sugarcane. Sugarcane takes one year or one and half year to grow and get harvested and undergoes crushing. The crushed juice is purified then evaporated to form syrup. Sugar crystal is separated from syrup. Moreover, sugar is obtained from drying and cooling of sugar crystals.

Sugarcane takes 12 to 18 months to grow and get harvested. The harvested sugarcane undergoes crushing ang the juice is obtained from it. Sugarcane juice is purified through limestone filter. The pure form of juice is obtained and kept in an evaporator. It converts juice into syrup. Syrup goes through centrifuge process. This process separates the sugar crystals from syrup which lead to the formation of sugar. The obtained sugar crystals are dried and cooled down, moreover we can get the pure form of sugar after following these steps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, from growth to the final product. However, the report is repetitive; the first paragraph provides a summary that is almost entirely restated in the second paragraph. This redundancy prevents a clear, concise overview. While the key features are identified, the lack of a clear, integrated structure makes the report feel like two separate attempts at the same task rather than a cohesive summary. To improve, you should avoid repeating information and focus on grouping the stages logically to show the progression of the process more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into two paragraphs, but the second paragraph essentially repeats the content of the first, which disrupts the logical flow. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'The' to start sentences. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the steps, the lack of variety in linking words and the redundant structure make the progression feel disjointed. Improving the use of transition signals (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'as a result') would help create a smoother, more professional narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'get', 'obtained', and 'converted'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'production process of sugar' (missing an article) and 'crushing ang' (a typo). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'refinement', 'crystallisation', and 'by-product', rather than repeating simple descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'one year or one and half year' should be 'one to one and a half years'. There are also missing articles throughout, such as 'in production of sugarcane' instead of 'in the production of sugar'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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

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