Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 arrow diagram displays how the sugar is made from sugar cane. It describes the steps which are involve in the making of sugar.

Overall, there are total 7 steps in the making of sugar starting from growing of sugar cane and end on drying and colling.

The most crutial step is the growth of sugar cane and it is also our first step after the growth of sugar cane the second step came which is the harvesting and it is done by both hands and machines. After the harvesting sugar canes are crushed and its juice is extracted then this juice is purified by lime filter then the evaporation phase engage through which juice changed into syrup.

After the evaporation phase in the next step sugar crystal are separated from the syrup and then cooling of these crystal is performed and after which our final product sugar is manufacture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as having seven stages and give a relevant overview from cane growth to the final drying and cooling stage. The main sequence is mostly reported accurately, including harvesting by hand or machine, crushing, juice purification, evaporation and separation of crystals. However, some details are imprecise: the diagram specifies a limestone filter, while “lime filter” is less exact, and the final stage is drying and cooling, not simply cooling. The overview also calls growth the “most crucial” step, which is an unsupported judgement rather than a key feature of the process. To make the account more complete, describe the 12–18-month growing period and clarify that the centrifuge separates sugar crystals from syrup.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, and the opening overview helps orient the reader. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “After the harvesting,” and “After the evaporation phase” make the stages easy to follow. However, most of the description is compressed into two long paragraphs, with the second paragraph carrying nearly all the stage-by-stage information. Some links are awkward or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “after” and the extended final sentence beginning “After the evaporation phase.” Use clearer sentence boundaries and organise the stages into distinct sections—for example, cultivation and extraction, followed by processing and finishing. This would improve progression and reduce the mechanical feel of the linking.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “crushed,” “juice,” “syrup,” and “crystal,” so the reader can understand the main stages. There is some attempt at more specific language, such as “extracted” and “purified.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural: “crutial,” “colling,” “lime filter,” “the evaporation phase engage,” and “sugar is manufacture.” These errors make the description less precise and sometimes distract from the process. Aim for standard process collocations and accurate spelling, and avoid evaluative wording such as “most crucial” when the diagram does not establish importance. More precise terms for the equipment and final treatment would strengthen the account.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences linked with clauses, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, control is inconsistent, especially in longer constructions. Examples include “the steps which are involve,” “there are total 7 steps,” and “the evaporation phase engage,” where verb forms or sentence structure are faulty. The final sentence also joins several actions with repeated “and after which,” making the relationship between clauses difficult to manage. Subject–verb agreement and articles are also unreliable in phrases such as “sugar crystal are separated.” Practise building accurate short sentences first, then combine them with controlled clauses. Check verb forms, singular/plural agreement, and punctuation when editing.

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