Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-13

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.

Overall, sugar canes grows in long period of time, it almost take 1 to 1.5 years, then it goes with multiple process to produce refine crystal sugar .

First sugar canes grows in 12 - 18 months ,then it is ready for harvesting , although farmer cut the sugar canes from the ground, however it goes for crushing process in which juice and sugar canes are being separated, whereas juice has send in limestone filter.

However, after passing filter process, juice is heated up under high flame where juice is converted into thick syrup , now the main process started in which juice is being transferred into centrifugal machine where sugar crystals has being separated from the syrup , thereby passing sugar crystals in to a metal drum in cool temperature where sugar crystals are set for drying and ready to consume.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages in the correct general order, from growing and harvesting through crushing, filtering, heating, centrifuging, and drying. The overview also identifies the long growing period and the production of sugar crystals. However, some details are incomplete or unclear: the diagram shows harvesting by both machine and hand, but you mention only farmers cutting the cane, and the final stage is described as a metal drum, which is not specified. The explanation of crushing also suggests that juice and cane are separated there, rather than clearly stating that the cane is crushed to extract juice. To strengthen the response, report both harvesting methods and describe each transformation precisely, while keeping the overview focused on the process’s key stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, and the opening overview is separated from the stage-by-stage account. Time and sequence markers such as “First,” “then,” and “after passing filter process” help the reader follow the process. However, most of the detailed stages are compressed into one long paragraph, and several connectors are used inaccurately or mechanically. For example, “although … however” creates an unnecessary contrast, while “whereas” does not express a clear comparison in the crushing sentence. The phrase “now the main process started” also interrupts the otherwise chronological progression. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and process details, and connect each stage with straightforward sequencing language and clear references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “crushing,” “limestone filter,” “syrup,” and “sugar crystals,” so the reader can identify the subject and many stages. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “centrifugal machine.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “manufacturing of sugar,” “long period of time,” “high flame,” and “ready to consume” do not describe the diagram naturally. “Refine crystal sugar” is also an unclear form. Aim for precise process language, such as “sugar production,” “a prolonged growing period,” “heated,” and “refined sugar crystals.” This would make the description more natural and exact without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “although,” “whereas,” and “where,” and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make several sentences awkward. For example, “sugar canes grows” should use a plural verb, and “it almost take” has incorrect agreement and tense. In “juice has send,” the passive form is incomplete; later, “crystals has being separated” also has an incorrect auxiliary construction. Long sentences joined by several clauses make these problems harder to control. Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for processes, such as “the juice is heated” and “the crystals are separated,” and divide complex descriptions into shorter sentences.

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