Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29

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 diagram illustrates the the process that producing the sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, ther are seven main stages of the process. Stating with the growing and ending with the drying and cooling for sugar.

Initially, sugar cane is grown 12-18 months. Once it has matured, sugar cane is harvested by either manually or by machine. After that, the sugar canes is crushed and extract the juice. The juice is purified by the limestone filter that remove the extra particle to the juice.

Furthermore, the purifying juice is heated by evaporator then it becomes a syrup. The syrup is passed through the centrifuge for further separates sugar crystals from syrup. After that, syrup is dryed and cooling and produced the final sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student successfully identifies the main stages of the sugar manufacturing process, starting from growing and harvesting through to drying and cooling. An overview is provided, stating that there are seven main stages. However, the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 122 words. This negative constraint violation directly impacts task achievement, preventing the response from reaching higher than a Band 5.0. Furthermore, some details lack precise integration, such as awkward phrasing regarding the limestone filter and the exact mechanism of the evaporator. To improve, the student must ensure the word count exceeds 150 words by fully developing each step of the process with greater detail and explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a clear logical progression, following the chronological order of the diagram from stage one to the final stage. Transitional phrases such as 'Initially', 'Once it has matured', 'After that', and 'Furthermore' are used to sequence the steps. Paragraphing is attempted, though the division could be better structured with a distinct introduction, body paragraphs for the process, and an overview. Referencing is mostly clear, although some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical, such as 'the purifying juice'. Overall, the organization is coherent enough to earn a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, including terms like 'harvested', 'crushed', 'juice', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are noticeable lexical and grammatical-form errors in word choice and morphology, such as 'the process that producing', 'ther are', 'dryed', and 'purifying juice' instead of 'purified juice'. These errors show limited control over word forms and spelling, constraining the score to a Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('sugar cane is harvested', 'the juice is purified'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the text, including 'the process that producing the sugar', 'ther are seven main stages', 'sugar canes is crushed and extract', and 'dryed and cooling and produced'. These persistent errors and mechanical mistakes can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly in the Band 5.0 category.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.