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 produces 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

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student successfully identifies the main purpose of the diagram, which is the manufacturing process of sugar from sugar cane, and outlines all seven major stages from growing to drying and cooling. However, the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 118 words. Due to this under-length penalty, the coverage of the process remains somewhat concise and lacks fully extended descriptions for each step. While the main features are reported accurately—such as the two harvesting methods and the limestone filtration—the brevity prevents a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text presents a clear logical organisation that follows the chronological sequence of the diagram. The writer uses standard sequential cohesive devices and transition markers such as 'Starting with', 'Once it has matured', 'After that', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader through the various steps. Paragraphing is attempted, although the body is condensed into a single block of text following the introduction. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, incorporating terms like 'matured', 'manually', 'extracted', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. There are a few minor lexical and collocational infelicities, such as 'extra particles to the juice' instead of 'from the juice' and 'the purifying juice' instead of 'the purified juice'. However, these errors do not impede overall communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('sugar cane is harvested', 'the juice is purified'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, notably the sentence fragment in the introduction ('Starting with the growing and ending with the drying and cooling for sugar for 12-18 months') and minor preposition slips ('passed through the centrifuge for further separation sugar crystals'). Despite these errors, the core meaning remains understandable.

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

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