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 manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, this process involves seven stages begining with growing and harvesting by knife or agriculture equipment. After cutting the sugar cane they go through crushing, purifying and evaporating than the sugar can converted into sugar.

Initially, the sugar canes are growing with the help of sunlight, water and soil and after the sugar cane ripns it is harvesting by different types of agriculture equipment. Simultaneously, crushing the sugar canes and extracted the juice while purifying juice by linestone filter.

Simultaneously, the juice go to boiling process juice becomes a syrups after this they go through the last process centrifuge they separates sugar crystrals from syrup. At the end of the manufacturing process stage we leave it to cool and dry then they become sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as sugar production and give a broad overview of its seven stages, including growing, crushing, purification, evaporation, separation and final drying and cooling. You also correctly note that harvesting can be done using equipment. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram does not show sunlight, water or soil, and it does not specify harvesting by knife; it shows mechanical and manual methods. The final stage is described imprecisely as leaving the product to cool and dry. The response is 127 words, below the required 150, and nine words copied from the prompt were not counted. To develop the report further, describe the limestone filter and explain that the centrifuge separates crystals from syrup.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and descriptions of the process. The stages are generally presented in the correct order, so the reader can follow the broad sequence. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and repeated use of “Simultaneously,” which does not accurately show that these are successive stages. The overview’s phrase “After cutting the sugar cane they go through…” also leaves the reference of “they” unclear. Paragraphing is present, but the process details could be grouped more logically and connected with straightforward sequence markers such as “Next,” “Following this” and “Finally.” This would make the organisation clearer and reduce the impression of disconnected or mechanically linked statements.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “crushing,” “filter,” “evaporating,” “centrifuge” and “crystals,” which helps communicate the main stages. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning less clear. For example, “agriculture equipment” is not a natural term for the harvesting machinery, and “boiling process” is less precise than describing the juice being heated in an evaporator. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “begining,” “ripns,” “linestone” and “crystrals.” Aim to use precise process terms consistently and check spelling carefully; this will make the description easier to understand and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be understood. However, errors are frequent, particularly in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction. For example, “this process involves seven stages begining” needs a correctly formed participle, while “the juice go” and “they separates” show subject–verb agreement problems. In “the sugar can converted into sugar,” the verb phrase is incomplete, and “it is harvesting” uses an incorrect passive form. Some sentences also join several stages without clear grammatical links, as in “Simultaneously, crushing the sugar canes and extracted the juice while purifying juice…” Practise accurate present-simple passive forms, such as “the cane is crushed,” and build shorter, complete sentences before adding complex clauses.

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

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