Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given diagram below illustrates the process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, there are 7 steps all steps are essential firstly, sugarcanes are grown during the period of 12-18 months then is harvested Then is crushed, afterwards juice is purified, after that, after evaporation juice becomes syrup, after that, the process centrifugation takes place, which is helpful to separate sugar crystals from syrup after that, sugar is dried and cooled.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the process as sugar production and include the overall sequence, including the 12–18-month growing period and the final drying and cooling stage. However, the response reports the diagram only minimally: it omits important details such as the two harvesting methods, crushing the cane to extract juice, and the limestone filter used to purify it. The overview is also compressed into one long sequence rather than clearly highlighting the process’s main features. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, which limits how fully you can select and describe the stages. To improve, give a concise overview and explain each key stage with accurate details from the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The stages are presented in the correct general order, and linking expressions such as “firstly,” “afterwards” and “after that” help show that this is a process. This gives the response some organisation. However, nearly all the information is packed into one sentence, with repeated transitions and no clear separation between an overview and the detailed stages. The sequence becomes difficult to follow in “after that, after evaporation juice becomes syrup, after that, the process centrifugation takes place.” Use separate paragraphs for the overview and process description, and connect stages with a more varied, controlled set of transitions. This would make the progression clearer and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “harvested,” “crushed,” “purified,” “evaporation,” “syrup” and “centrifugation,” so the reader can recognise the subject and many stages. However, the vocabulary range is limited, and some expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as “the process centrifugation takes place” and “which is helpful to separate.” “Sugarcanes” is also conventionally written as two words, “sugar canes.” Aim for precise process language and natural collocations, for example, “the juice is purified through a limestone filter” and “the centrifuge separates sugar crystals from the remaining syrup.” This will make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the broad sequence, and the opening sentence uses a straightforward present-tense structure. However, the range of sentence forms is limited, and the long sentence describing the stages contains frequent problems with clause boundaries and punctuation. For example, “Overall, there are 7 steps all steps are essential firstly” joins several ideas without appropriate punctuation, while “then is harvested Then is crushed” omits the subject and has inconsistent sentence boundaries. The phrase “after evaporation juice becomes syrup” also needs an article or passive construction. Use complete passive sentences consistently, such as “The cane is harvested and then crushed,” and punctuate each stage clearly.

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