Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03
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 of manufacturing of sugar from sugar cane. In the initial process sugar cane can be seen that it took 12 to 18 months to grow, after that harblvesting process to be adopted either through machines or by doing the manual process by using labor. Subsequently, crushing of the harvested sugar canes is performed for the extraction of juice than the juice is purified through limestone filter, then the the juice is heated on certain temperature for the syrup composition. Furthermore, the centrifuge process separates the crystals from syrup which lead to pure sugar availability which then being cooled and dried.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response only partially addresses the task requirements. First, the length requirement is not met, as the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 105 words. Regarding the content, the student manages to identify the main stages of the sugar cane manufacturing process, starting from growing and harvesting through to crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and finally drying and cooling. However, the details provided are rather limited and under-developed, lacking a clear overview statement that summarises the overall process. To reach a higher band, the writer must ensure the word count requirement is met and expand further on the key stages with clearer supporting details.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
There is some basic organisation present, tracing the steps of the process chronologically using basic linking words such as 'after that', 'subsequently', and 'furthermore'. However, the response lacks a clear overall progression and suffers from being presented as a single dense paragraph rather than being structured logically into separate paragraphs for different phases of the process. Cohesive devices are sometimes used mechanically or repetitively, such as the repeated use of 'then the the juice'. Referencing between sentences could also be smoother. To improve, the writer needs to employ more varied and accurate cohesive devices and organise the text into distinct, logical paragraphs.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for describing a basic process, featuring words such as 'manufacturing', 'harvesting', 'crushing', and 'crystals'. There are, however, noticeable lexical errors and spelling mistakes, such as 'harblvesting' and awkward phrasing like 'pure sugar availability'. Word choice is occasionally imprecise, and these errors can cause some slight difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher score, the student should expand their range of vocabulary, use more precise scientific or technical terms relevant to processes, and pay closer attention to correct word forms and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer demonstrates a limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on a mix of simple clauses and over-extended complex sentences that lack proper punctuation. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the juice is purified through limestone filter'), incorrect prepositional phrases ('on certain temperature'), and run-on sentence structures containing comma splices ('for the extraction of juice than the juice is purified...'). These frequent errors and faulty attempts at complex sentences can cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over basic sentence boundaries, punctuation, articles, and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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