Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the process that producing sugar from sugar cane.
Overall, there are seven main stages of the process. Starting with the growing and ending with the drying and cooling for sugar.for 12-18 months. Once it has matured, sugar cane is harvested either manually or by machine. After that, the sugar cane is crushed and the juice is extracted. The juice is purified by the limestone filter that removes the extra particles to the juice.
Furthermore, the purifying juice is heated by an evaporator, and then it becomes a syrup. The syrup is passed through the centrifuge for further separation sugar crystals from syrup. After that, syrup is dried and cooled and produces the final sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main stages of the sugar manufacturing process, starting from growing and harvesting through to the final drying and cooling stages. All key steps depicted in the diagram, such as crushing, juice purification via a limestone filter, evaporation, and centrifugation, are mentioned. However, the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, stopping short at 117 words. This under-length impacts the overall development and depth of the report, preventing the student from achieving a higher band score despite covering the sequence accurately. To improve, the student should expand on descriptions by adding contextual details about the inputs and outputs at each stage.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The report demonstrates a clear logical sequence that follows the chronological order of the diagram. The student uses standard sequencing cohesive devices such as 'Starting with', 'Once it has matured', and 'After that' to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is attempted, though the text is heavily compressed into a short response. Referencing is generally clear, although the transition phrase 'Furthermore, the purifying juice' contains a slight cohesion awkwardness. Overall, the logical progression is maintained well, but the lack of substantial length limits the complexity of cohesive relationships displayed.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student employs a moderately adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the process diagram, incorporating subject-specific terms such as 'harvested', 'crushed', 'extracted', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are notable word choice and phrasing errors, such as 'the process that producing sugar', 'to the juice', and 'the purifying juice'. Additionally, 'separation sugar crystals' lacks the appropriate preposition ('separation of sugar crystals'). The vocabulary is functional and enables basic communication of the visual data, but lacks the precision and flexibility expected at higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writing includes a mix of simple and passive sentence structures, which are generally appropriate for describing a manufacturing process, such as 'sugar cane is harvested' and 'the juice is purified'. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward constructions throughout the text, including the opening fragment 'The diagram illustrates the process that producing sugar from sugar cane' and the dangling phrase 'Starting with the growing and ending with the drying and cooling for sugar.for 12-18 months.' Punctuation and sentence boundary issues are also present. These errors occasionally disrupt the flow of reading, though meaning is rarely completely obscured.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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