Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-12

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 illustrates the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, there are seven stages in the process, commencing from cultivation of sugar canes to ending with making sugar for the utilization for the human uses.

To begin with, the first step involve the collection and purification of the sugar canes. The process starts with canes being grown for the period of at least 12-18 months, before being harvested by mechnical or manual methods which then lead to the crushing process. In the this stage, machinary is used to grind those sugar canes into juice and bagasse, as its by product is used as fertilizer in order to grow trees. Following this, the sugar making process continue by purification of those juice through a limestone filter, in the fourth stage.

The remaining process contains the evaporation of juice under the heat for making syrup. Subsequently, the crystals can sperated from those syrup under the use of centrifugal machine. Finally, the sugar is being kept in a container to become dry and cooled which is used for the consumption for humankind.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of the sugar manufacturing process, starting from cultivation and ending with the final drying and cooling phase. The overview paragraph effectively highlights that there are seven distinct stages, and relevant comparisons or sequential links are made throughout. For instance, the student correctly identifies the separation of juice and bagasse and details the subsequent purification and evaporation phases. While some minor details could be further elaborated, the overall coverage is comprehensive and satisfies the requirements of a Band 6.5 or 7.0 for Task Achievement. The ideas are clearly presented, following the logical flow of the original diagram without omitting major steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text displays a clear overall progression, structured logically into an introduction, an overview, and distinct body paragraphs that follow the sequential steps of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Following this', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are employed to guide the reader through the stages. However, some mechanical referencing and awkward transitions occur, such as 'In the this stage' and 'The remaining process contains'. Paragraphing is used adequately, but the integration of sentences could be smoother to achieve higher levels of cohesion. Referencing is mostly functional, though occasional lapses prevent the response from reaching Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing a process diagram, incorporating topic-specific terminology such as 'cultivation', 'harvested', 'crushing', 'purification', 'evaporation', and 'centrifugal machine'. However, there are noticeable word choice and spelling inaccuracies, including 'mechnical' instead of mechanical, 'machinary' instead of machinery, and awkward collocations like 'utilization for the human uses' and 'consumption for humankind'. While less common vocabulary is attempted, these errors and slightly unnatural phrasings limit the lexical score to a solid Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at relative clauses ('which then lead to the crushing process') and participial phrases ('before being harvested'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward agreements throughout the text. Examples include 'the first step involve' (disagreement between subject and verb), 'for the period of' (unnecessary article usage), 'process continue' (verb form error), and 'crystals can sperated' (missing auxiliary verb). Although these errors do not severely impede overall communication, their frequency prevents the writing from achieving a Band 7.0.

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