Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-28
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 the sugarcane.
Overall, it is evident that there are seven basic steps of making sugar from sugarcane. These steps are growing, harvesting crushing, purifying juice than evaporate and last step is drying and cooling.
The first step is that a person growing sugarcane for 12 to 18 months. Secondly it is harvesting by two process, the step is cutting sugarcane by a proper machinery or second process is cutting by another man. The third and most crucial step is crushing. A man enters some sugarcane into machine hence this machine provide juice from sugarcane. Than the purifying step are coming, althought in this step limestone filter is used to purify juice.
After purifying the juice of sugarcane, it must be evaporate in a small container under the heat. In this step juice becomes syrup. The second last step is centrifuge process in which separates sugar crystals from syrup. The alst step is drying and cooling the suagar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main stages of the manufacturing process, outlining the transformation of sugar cane into sugar through seven sequential steps. The overview provided in the introduction captures the general progression, mentioning growing, harvesting, crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and drying/cooling. However, some details are slightly inaccurate or awkwardly phrased, such as stating 'a person growing sugarcane for 12 to 18 months,' whereas the diagram indicates a growth period rather than an action performed by an individual. Furthermore, minor steps like the limestone filter and heat are mentioned, but the overall development remains somewhat basic and formulaic, aligning well with a Band 5.5 to 6.0 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response attempts a clear logical organisation, using transition words and sequencing markers such as 'Overall', 'The first step', 'Secondly', 'The third and most crucial step', and 'After purifying'. Paragraphing is attempted, though the division is somewhat irregular with abrupt spacing and a lack of smooth transitions between the body sentences. Referencing is occasionally unclear, for instance in phrases like 'than the purifying step are coming, althought in this step limestone filter is used'. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or overused, and referencing errors occur, which restricts the coherence to a Band 5.5 score.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms from the diagram such as 'manufacturing process', 'harvesting', 'crushing', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'syrup', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are notable lexical errors and spelling mistakes throughout the text, including 'suagar', 'althought', 'alst', and inappropriate word choices like 'a person growing sugarcane' or 'machine hence this machine provide juice'. The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, reflecting the constraints typical of a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the purifying step are coming', 'it must be evaporate'), incorrect verb tenses ('a person growing sugarcane', 'in which separates sugar crystals'), and awkward prepositions or connectors ('than evaporate', 'by two process'). Punctuation is also problematic in places. These errors frequently cause strain for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly at a Band 5.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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