Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-26

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 illustrates the process of manufacturing for making sugar from the sugar cane.

Overall,there are seven steps in the process of making sugar which starts from growing sugar canes in the field and ends with processed sugar.

To begin with,sugar canes are grown in the field for about 12 to 18 months. Then, sugar canes are harvested by human or machine. After that, the harvested sugar canes are crushed into the machine from that sugar cane juice are collected. Next the sugarcane juice are purified by the help of limestone filter.

In the next step,the juice are heated and evaporated from that heat juice becomes syrup. Lastly,the sugar crystals are seperated from syrup which called centrifuge. Finally, it is dryed and cooled then the sugar is ready.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student successfully identifies the main steps in the sugar manufacturing process, beginning with growing sugar canes and ending with drying and cooling the final product. A clear overview is provided, stating that there are seven steps in total. However, the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 129 words. This negative constraint violation directly impacts task achievement, as the details provided are somewhat abbreviated. Furthermore, the description misses minor elements such as the role of the evaporator and heat in converting juice to syrup in greater depth. To achieve a higher band score, the writer must ensure the word count requirement is met and expand slightly on the intermediate mechanical and chemical stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The report demonstrates a clear logical progression through the use of sequencing cohesive devices such as "To begin with", "Then", "After that", "Next", and "Finally". Paragraphing is utilised to separate the introduction, overall summary, and body steps, although the paragraphs are quite short. Cohesive devices are generally appropriate, though phrases like "from that heat juice becomes syrup" show some awkward mechanical referencing and phrasing. Overall, the information flows chronologically and is easy to follow, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating appropriate process-related terms such as "manufacturing process", "harvested", "crushed", "purified", "evaporated", and "centrifuge". However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as "process of manufacturing for making sugar" (unnecessary repetition) and "crushed into the machine from that sugar cane juice are collected" (awkward preposition and phrasing). Spelling is generally accurate, with the exception of "seperated" and "dryed". The lexical range is sufficient to communicate the main points, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ("sugar canes are grown", "sugar canes are harvested"). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several subject-verb agreement and prepositional errors, including "the sugarcane juice are purified" (should be 'is') and "the juice are heated" (should be 'is'). Additionally, relative clauses and transition links are sometimes clumsy, as seen in "from that juice becomes syrup". While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the grammar score from reaching a Band 6.

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

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