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 provided diagram outline the stages of the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, it evident that, the process consists seven stages start with growing and harvesting sugar cane and end with drying and cooling.

To begin with, sugar cane are growing in soil and it take 12 to 18 months for ready. After this, sugar cane are harvesting with the help of combine and tractor. Then, surgar cane are transfer to a machine for crushling of surgar cane, it make a juice of sugar cane. Moreover, they purifying juice with the help of limestone filter.

Furthermore, after purifying juice, it send for evaporation with the help of syrup and gave heat and boil properly. After evaporation it transfer for centrifuge. The centrifuge machine separates sugar crystals from syrup. Then they add some chemicals in sugar. After this sugar put on a box for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main stages of the sugar-making process from growing to drying and cooling, providing an adequate overview in the second paragraph. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains 141 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. Furthermore, some details are slightly inaccurate or under-developed based on the diagram, such as the mention that chemicals are added, which is not depicted in the source chart. The mechanical aspects of the process, like the evaporator and centrifuge stages, are described only partially, keeping the task achievement score at this level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response presents an overall coherent arrangement and attempts to sequence the stages logically using transition markers such as 'To begin with', 'After this', and 'Furthermore'. However, paragraphing is basic, and cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, with referencing that is not always clear. For instance, the transition between sentences feels abrupt at times, and cohesive devices are used repetitively. While there is a clear progression from start to finish, the logical flow lacks the flexibility and smooth transitions characteristic of a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to the process, such as 'manufacturing', 'evaporation', and 'centrifuge', but these are accompanied by noticeable errors in word form and spelling, including 'outline' instead of 'outlines', 'surgar', 'crushling', and 'transfer'. These lexical errors and awkward word choices cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a restricted control over word formation and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The grammatical range is limited, featuring a mix of simple and frequent faulty complex structures. There are numerous grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'sugar cane are growing' and 'sugar cane are harvesting', incorrect verb forms such as 'it take' and 'it send', and missing articles or prepositions. These frequent errors in grammar and punctuation can cause difficulty for the reader and prevent the response from achieving a higher band.

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

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