Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-24

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 given image illustrates the process of making sugar from sugar cane. Overall, there are seven main stages beginning with the growth of sugarcane and ending with the drying and cooling of the sugar crystals.

Overview, the first step is about growing sugarcane for 12 to 18 months until the sugarcane is matured. Moreover, the sugarcane is harvested through a harvesting maschine or harvester and in some cases it cut down by manual labour. Furthermore, it is then sent to mills where sugarcane is crushed in a crusher machine until all of its juice is extracted from it.

After the crushing process, the juice is purified by using a limestone filter. after that the juice is then heated until all of the water particles are evaporated, thick sugarcane syrup is left. Following the process the syrup is then placed inside a machine called centrifuge that separate the sugar crystals from the syrup. Lastly, sugar crystals are left openly or in a container to let them cool off to be cenverted to sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student successfully addresses the main requirements of the task by outlining the seven-stage linear process of producing sugar from sugar cane. The response includes an appropriate overview stating the beginning and end points of the process. Key features are reported, such as the 12 to 18 months growth period, the two harvesting methods (mechanical harvester and manual labour), crushing, filtering with limestone, evaporation, and separation via a centrifuge. However, the details in the body paragraphs tend to stray into listing every single sub-step rather than selecting and comparing the most salient overall features effectively. Minor inaccuracies in phrasing occur, such as stating that sugar crystals are left openly to be converted to sugar, but the overall progression of the diagram is accurately captured. The response meets all positive criteria for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a clear overall logical organization, following the chronological steps of the diagram from left to right and top to bottom. Cohesive devices and transition markers are utilized to guide the reader through the stages, for instance, using phrases like 'Overall', 'the first step', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', 'After the crushing process', and 'Lastly'. However, paragraphing is somewhat problematic; the text begins with a short introductory sentence followed by an overview paragraph, and the second paragraph lumps together multiple distinct steps ('Overview, the first step is about...'). This mechanical grouping and an awkward transitional phrasing ('Overview, the first step') slightly detract from the flow, placing the response firmly in the Band 6.0 range.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms from the diagram such as 'sugar cane', 'harvesting', 'crushed', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'syrup', 'centrifuge', and 'sugar crystals'. There are, however, a few spelling errors and awkward lexical choices, such as 'maschine' (machine), 'matured' (mature), and 'cenverted' (converted). The writer attempts less common vocabulary items like 'manual labour' and 'extracted', but overall control of precise word choice and spelling shows intermittent errors that prevent it from reaching a higher band. The lexical range is sufficient to convey the core information clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and passive voice constructions appropriately in places, such as 'where sugarcane is crushed in a crusher machine until all of its juice is extracted from it' and 'the juice is purified by using a limestone filter.' However, there are noticeable grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, including lowercase sentence beginnings after full stops ('after that the juice is then heated'), subject-verb agreement slips ('the sugarcane is harvested... and in some cases it cut down'), and prepositional errors. Despite these frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation, the meaning remains clear and communication is not impeded, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.

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

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