Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-08

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 5.0)

Firstly the Suger cane is gown within 12 to 18 months then it is harvested by the farmers however after harvesting the Suger cane it is then crushed in the machine in a way that it releases the juice and then the juice is collected and then it is purified by the limestone filter to remove all the extra material then the juice becomes syrup it is then Heated in a evaporator therefore it produces crystals then the centrifuge process is performed separating sugar crystals from the syrup and lastly it is dried and kept for cooling for some time and sent to vendors

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the main sequence from growing sugar cane through harvesting, crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying/cooling. The 12–18-month growing period is also reported accurately. However, the response is only a partial account: it does not describe the two harvesting methods shown, and it says evaporation “produces crystals,” whereas the diagram shows the juice becoming syrup before the centrifuge separates sugar crystals from syrup. The claim that the finished sugar is “sent to vendors” is not supported by the diagram. There is no clear overview of the process as a whole, and the response is 104 words, below the required 150. Add a concise overview and explain the key transformations and final stages using only information shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in the correct general order, and linking expressions such as “then,” “therefore,” and “lastly” help the reader follow the process. However, the response is one long sentence, so the sequence feels crowded and the links become repetitive. The repeated use of “then” does not clearly distinguish the major phases, and the relationship between evaporation and centrifuging is muddled by saying the evaporator “produces crystals.” Organise the account into short paragraphs—for example, an overview followed by the preparation and processing stages—and use a wider range of precise sequencing phrases. Clear sentence boundaries would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “harvested,” “crushed,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” and “centrifuge,” which make the basic subject clear. However, the vocabulary is limited and some choices are inaccurate or unsupported: “extra material” is vague, “kept for cooling” is awkward, and “sent to vendors” adds a step not shown. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “Suger” and “gown,” which should be “sugar” and “grown.” Aim for more precise process vocabulary, such as describing the juice as being filtered or purified and the syrup as being spun in a centrifuge to separate crystals. Avoid adding details that the diagram does not provide.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the broad sequence, but it relies heavily on one extended sentence joined by “then,” with limited variety in sentence structures. This creates run-on punctuation and makes some relationships unclear. There are also recurring errors in forms and articles: “the Suger cane is gown” should be “sugar cane is grown,” and “in a evaporator” should be “in an evaporator.” Capitalisation is inconsistent in “Heated,” and the opening clause would be clearer with a full stop after the growing period. Use several shorter sentences, check articles and verb forms, and punctuate each stage clearly. These changes would make the process easier to understand while preserving the information you already include.

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

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