Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-07

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 stages involved in the production process for making sugar, tracing the process from sugar canes to the final sugar stage.

Overall, the procedure follows a linear, multi-stage sequence that begins with harvesting a sugar canes before plant a sugan canes for 12-18 months, and ends with sugar after they have been drying and cooling. During these stages, the sugar canes are harvesting, make a juice to crushing, purifying juice, heat and make separate form of sugar.

In the initial stages, plant a sugan canes and grow sugarcane for 12-18 months and harvesting by farmers. Once the sugarcane have been harvested, the sugarcane passes into the crushing machine, which make a juice of it. Then, purifying the juice with added some limestone flavour.

The ramaining stages deal with heat treatment to becomes syrup. the syrup transferred into the next stage to bring in small pieces of form and subsequently dried and cooled as they move along the production line.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as a sequence from sugar cane to sugar and include the growing period of 12–18 months, harvesting, crushing, purification, heating, and final drying and cooling. This gives the reader a relevant overview and covers much of the diagram. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the overview says harvesting happens before planting, and the account does not clearly explain that the centrifuge separates sugar crystals from syrup. The reference to “limestone flavour” also misrepresents the limestone filter, while “small pieces” is not a clear description of the crystals. To strengthen the report, present the stages in the correct order and explain the key transformation at each point, especially evaporation into syrup and separation in the centrifuge.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the process stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “In the initial stages,” “Once,” and “Then” help guide the reader through the account. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the overview reverses planting and harvesting, and the final paragraph begins with “The remaining stages” without clearly identifying the centrifuge or linking the syrup to the separated crystals. Some connections are also awkward, such as “make a juice to crushing.” Organise the details in the diagram’s exact sequence and use clear references to each stage so that the reader can follow the process without having to infer missing links.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “production process,” “crushing machine,” “purifying,” “syrup,” and “drying and cooling.” These terms show an attempt to describe the diagram rather than relying only on general language. However, word choice and spelling errors sometimes make the meaning unclear. “Limestone flavour” is not an appropriate description of a filter, “small pieces of form” does not clearly convey sugar crystals, and “ramaining” is misspelled. There is also repetition of “sugar canes” and “process.” Use precise terms from the diagram, such as “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” and “centrifuge,” and choose accurate verbs like “extract,” “separate,” and “crystallise” to describe the transformations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, for example, “Once the sugarcane have been harvested, the sugarcane passes into the crushing machine.” This shows some ability to connect stages using subordinate clauses. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are noticeable and sometimes make the process difficult to follow. Examples include “before plant a sugan canes,” “the sugarcane have been harvested,” and “the syrup transferred into the next stage.” The overview also contains an unclear sequence of actions in “are harvesting, make a juice to crushing.” Review subject–verb agreement and use consistent passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the cane is crushed” and “the syrup is transferred.”

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