Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-15

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)

This diagram show different step involved in making sugar from sugar cane.there are 7 total step from growing to drying and cooling.

Firstly is growing of sugar cane in agricultural land which take 12 to 18 months time , than second stage is harvesting which can be done either manually through hand or by doing it through tractor. Third step is crushing the sugar cane, In which sugar cane is put into the crash machine as long cylindrical fruits of sugar cane and final product would be in form of juice . Next one is to purified this juice through limestone filter which would remove the waste material attack to sugar, and then this filter juice is to heat, it would evaporate the water and only juice syrup would be left behind. Second last step is to centrifuge which separate sugar crystals from syrup. Final step is to dry and cool the sugar crystals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages in the correct order, from growing and harvesting through crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. It also includes the important 12–18-month growing period and notes that harvesting can be manual or mechanical. However, there is no clearly separated overview that summarises the process as a whole; the opening only says there are seven steps. Some details are unclear or inaccurate: the cane is described as “long cylindrical fruits,” and the limestone filter is said to remove waste “attack to sugar,” which does not clearly explain purification. To strengthen the report, give a concise overview of the linear process and describe the key transformations more precisely, especially juice becoming syrup and crystals being separated from syrup.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are presented in a generally logical sequence, and signposting such as “Firstly,” “Third step,” “Second last step,” and “Final step” helps the reader follow the process. The response therefore has an overall coherent arrangement. However, it is written as one continuous paragraph, and the transitions are somewhat mechanical rather than varied. Some links between stages are also unclear, particularly the sentence beginning “Next one is to purified this juice,” which combines purification and heating without a clear boundary. Use paragraphing where appropriate and connect each stage with precise sequencing language, while making sure each sentence clearly identifies what moves to the next stage. This would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “limestone filter,” “evaporate,” “syrup,” and “sugar crystals,” so the reader can identify most stages. There is also some attempt to describe the machinery and methods. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear: “crash machine” for the crusher, “fruits” for cane stalks, and “waste material attack to sugar” do not communicate the intended meaning naturally. “Final product” is also imprecise when referring to juice at the crushing stage. Aim for accurate process terms and natural combinations, such as “crushing machine,” “cane stalks,” and “impurities are removed.” This greater precision would improve clarity without requiring unnecessarily advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to combine stages and explain processes, for example, “which can be done either manually… or… through tractor” and the clause describing evaporation. However, sentence structures are often faulty, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and punctuation recur. Examples include “This diagram show,” “7 total step,” “which take 12 to 18 months time,” and “this filter juice is to heat.” The long sentence beginning “Third step is crushing” also joins several ideas with inconsistent capitalisation and punctuation. These errors sometimes make relationships between actions difficult to understand. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then add controlled relative clauses and passive forms, such as “The cane is crushed” and “The juice is heated.” Check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries during editing.

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