Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-14

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)

From the given diagram we can see how sugar is manufacturing from the sugar canes. We can see in diagram that sugar canes are growing and be ready in 12 to 18 months. So when crops are ready then harvesting process starts. Harvesting can be doing by two methods one is on machinery and other method is manual harvesting throgh human by a cutting tool. Then in 3rd stage crushing process starts, sugarcanes are putting in a crushing machine which then crushing these sugarcanes and there juice is coming out from another output side. After this, in 4th stage this juice is purifying by filtering it throgh limestone filter. So when juice purifying process completed, in 5th stage juice are then puted into an evaporator.heat is provided by lower end sp juice becomes syrup there. 6th stage is centrifuge, spining (rotating) this, in this suger crystals are separates from syrup. And inlast 7th stage it is putted into a drum which is open from upside and there it becoming drying and cooling and sugar is then ready and manufactured

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover the main sequence from growing the cane to producing sugar, and include useful details such as the 12–18-month growing period, the two harvesting methods, and the centrifuge separating crystals from syrup. However, the response does not give a clear overview of the process as a whole; it moves straight into stage-by-stage description. Some details are unclear or imprecise, particularly the final stage, where the diagram shows drying and cooling rather than sugar being put into a drum that is open at the top. The description of purification and evaporation is present but brief. To strengthen the report, begin with a concise overview identifying the linear process and its main transformation from cane to sugar, then describe the stages accurately and selectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and sequencing phrases such as “Then,” “After this,” and “in 5th stage” help the reader follow the process. This gives the response some overall organisation. However, it is written as one long paragraph, and the repeated stage-by-stage transitions make the progression feel mechanical. Several links are awkward or unclear, such as “So when juice purifying process completed” and “inlast 7th stage.” Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the detailed sequence, and vary the linking language. Clearer sentence boundaries would also make the relationships between actions easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “crushing,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” and “centrifuge,” which helps communicate the diagram’s stages. There are also attempts to describe technical actions, such as separating crystals from syrup. However, vocabulary is often repetitive or inaccurately formed, and some choices make the meaning less natural: “sugar is manufacturing,” “on machinery,” and “putted into a drum.” Spelling errors such as “throgh,” “suger,” and “spining” are noticeable. Aim for precise process collocations and accurate word forms—for example, “sugar is produced,” “mechanically,” and “the crystals are separated”—while retaining the useful technical terms you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to connect stages with longer sentences, and the sequence is usually understandable. However, grammatical errors are frequent, and attempts at complex structures are often faulty. Examples include “sugar is manufacturing,” “sugar canes are growing and be ready,” and “juice are then puted,” which show problems with passive forms, agreement, and verb forms. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also weak, as in “evaporator.heat is provided by lower end sp juice becomes syrup there.” Use the present simple passive consistently for a process description, such as “the cane is crushed” and “the juice is heated,” and check subject–verb agreement. Shorter, accurately punctuated sentences would improve clarity while you build control of more complex forms.

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

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