Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 shows how sugar is produce out of sugar cane

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with the growing of sugar canes and ending with the drying and cooling of sugar.

Initially, the sugar canes is plant and wait for it grows.After 12-18 months and it's fully grown, the farmer harvested it with two methods either with the use of harvesting vehicle or by manual. Following this, the harvested crops put into a machine and crushes it then eventually produce a juice. Subsequently, the purifying juice, place into a limestone filter to remove any unwanted particles.

Once the juice is completely filtered, it is then place into a evaporater and heat it until the juice becomes syrup.Following this, the syrup needs to undergone the process of removing the sugar crystals from syrup using a centrtifuge. In the final stage, the syrup place into a bin for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully identifies the main features of the diagram, outlining all seven key stages from growing and harvesting to drying and cooling. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, which appropriately summarises the process as a seven-stage sequence. Key details such as the duration of the growing period (12-18 months), the two harvesting methods, the limestone filter, the evaporator, and the centrifuge are all mentioned. However, the response is relatively brief and some descriptions lack full elaboration, landing it firmly in Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a logical sequence, moving sequentially from the beginning to the end of the manufacturing process. Paragraphing is utilised to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Following this', 'Subsequently', and 'In the final stage' help guide the reader through the stages. However, referencing and transitions are at times mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Subsequently, the purifying juice, place into a limestone filter', which reduces the overall fluidity of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a process, incorporating appropriate domain-specific terms such as 'sugar canes', 'harvested', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'syrup', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are numerous word choice and form errors, such as 'produce' instead of 'produced', 'plant and wait for it grows', and 'evaporater'. These lexical errors and awkward formations limit the score to a Band 5.5, as they occasionally cause strain for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak throughout. There are frequent basic errors involving tense, subject-verb agreement, and voice, such as 'the sugar canes is plant and wait for it grows', 'the harvested crops put into a machine', and 'the syrup place into a bin'. Passive voice constructions, which are essential for process descriptions, are frequently mishandled or omitted. These frequent errors restrict the grammar score to a Band 5.0.

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