Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-01
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 visual data below provides the information about the production for making sugar from sugar cane. Overall, there are seven stages included in the process of sugar making which are interlinked with each other.
To begin, the initial process starts with the cultivation of sugar canes which takes time for almost 1/2 year to fully grow, followed by a procedure called harvesting. The machine cuts the sticks of sugar cane and then a farmer peels of the branches. Furthermore, sugar canes has been placed into a crusher machine. The crusher machine squeezed the sugar canes, finally juice from sugar canes come out and store it into a big pot. After that juice has been placed in a limestone filter to clear unwanted particles.
Moreover, in evaporator machine, juice took the form of syrup by excessive heat. Then sugar crystals has been seperated by a machine called centrifugal, Ultimately sugar has taken its shape in the form of white tiny crystals by drying and cooling process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers all key stages of the sugar production process from growing to drying and cooling, fulfilling the core requirements of the task. However, some aspects are under-developed or slightly inaccurate according to the visual data. For instance, the text states that the cane takes 'almost 1/2 year' to fully grow, whereas the diagram clearly specifies twelve to eighteen months. Additionally, the description of harvesting slightly misinterprets the dual methods shown by stating that a machine cuts the sticks and a farmer peels the branches, rather than presenting them as two alternative methods. While an overview is provided at the beginning, the mechanical details and transitions between steps could be extended to reach a higher level of completeness and accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression from the first stage to the last. The writer successfully divides the text into logical paragraphs, starting with an introductory overview and following the chronological steps of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' are used to connect ideas, though some transitional phrasing feels somewhat mechanical or repetitive. Referencing is generally clear, and the overall structure guides the reader through the sequence without losing the narrative thread, though more varied cohesive links would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'cultivation', 'crusher machine', 'limestone filter', and 'centrifugal'. However, there are noticeable lexical and word-form errors that reflect a limited range. Examples include 'peels of the branches' (instead of off), 'has been placed' where past tense is more suitable, and referring to the centrifuge as 'centrifugal'. While these minor slips and inaccuracies do not severely impede communication, they prevent the response from achieving a higher band by showing a lack of precision in word choice and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and passive constructions such as 'which are interlinked with each other' and 'sugar crystals has been seperated'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors in verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and articles throughout the text. Examples include 'sugar canes has been placed', 'juice took the form', and missing plural agreements. Although these errors do not completely obscure the meaning, they occur regularly and signal a lack of firm control over complex grammatical structures, placing the grammar performance firmly within this band.
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