Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-15

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 given diagram shows how the sugar is manufactured from sugar canes. Overall, it is apparent that this man-made linear process has three main stages beginning with the cultivation and harvesting of sugar canes, followed by crushing and purification and finally crystalization to obtain the dried sugar product.

Firstly, the sugar cane is grown for about 12-18 months, before being harvested by different methods. Subsequent to this, the sugar canes are crushed through a machine from which sugar juice is obtained.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, containing only 81 words. Consequently, the description of the process is severely truncated. While the student successfully identifies the main stages in the overview and begins detailing the initial steps (growing, harvesting, and crushing), the report breaks off before covering the subsequent purification, evaporation, centrifugation, and cooling stages. According to the band descriptors, an under-length response that stops halfway through cannot fully address all parts of the task. Therefore, Task Achievement is penalised significantly for incomplete coverage resulting from the strict length limitation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

Despite the incomplete nature of the text, the writing demonstrates a clear and logical start. The student introduces the diagram effectively with a concise overview ('Overall, it is apparent that this man-made linear process has three main stages...'). Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Before being harvested', and 'Subsequent to this' are used appropriately to sequence the opening steps. Paragraphing is also initiated correctly, separating the introduction from the body details. However, because the text cuts off abruptly after only two body sentences, it is impossible to evaluate a full cohesive structure across a complete essay. Organisation is clear as far as it goes, but cohesion remains undeveloped.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the portion of the task completed. Appropriate terms relevant to the topic are employed, such as 'cultivation', 'harvesting', 'crushed', and 'sugar juice'. There are attempts at less common phrasing, such as 'man-made linear process' and 'subsequent to this', which show an awareness of academic style. Spelling and word choice are accurate in the sentences provided, and communication is clear. However, due to the very limited output of only 81 words, the lexical range is necessarily restricted, preventing the response from achieving a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammatical structures attempted within the short response are generally accurate. The student successfully uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as the passive construction 'how the sugar is manufactured' and the dependent time clause 'before being harvested by different methods'. Punctuation is correct, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors in the text produced. Control of the structures used is good, yielding error-free sentences. Nonetheless, the range of grammar is inherently limited due to the brief length of the writing, precluding the display of a wider variety of complex forms across a full response.

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

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