Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-16

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 process chart illustrates the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, there are 7 steps in total, all steps are essential.

firstly, sugarcane is grown for about 12-18 months then is harvested after that is crushed after that, juice is purified juice subsequently, juice is purified through limestone fiter, after that, juice becomes syrup through evaporator moving forward, through the process of centrifuge sugar crystals are separated from sugar, at last sugar is dried and cooled .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the process as sugar production and include several key stages, including the 12–18-month growing period, limestone filtration, evaporation and drying. However, the account is very brief and does not adequately summarise the full diagram: the two harvesting methods and the crushing stage are not clearly explained, and the centrifuge is inaccurately described as separating crystals “from sugar” rather than from syrup. The overview, “all steps are essential,” does not highlight the main transformation from cane to sugar. The response is also 78 words below the 150-word minimum; the nine words copied from the task prompt are excluded from the count. To improve, give a clear overview and describe each stage accurately, including the alternative harvesting methods and the separation of crystals from syrup.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The stages are presented in roughly the correct order, and sequencing expressions such as “firstly,” “after that,” “subsequently” and “at last” help signal progression. This gives the reader a basic sense of the process. However, nearly all the information is compressed into one long, poorly punctuated sentence, so the progression is difficult to follow. “After that” is repeated, and the sequence around crushing and purification becomes unclear, especially in “juice is purified juice subsequently, juice is purified.” Use separate sentences or paragraphs for the growing and harvesting stages and for the factory stages. Choose a smaller range of accurate linking phrases and make each one connect a clearly stated step.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “manufacturing process,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” “centrifuge” and “sugar crystals.” These terms show awareness of the diagram’s subject and allow the reader to recognise several stages. However, the range is limited and some wording is repetitive or imprecise: “after that” occurs several times, while “separated from sugar” does not accurately express the centrifuge’s function. There are also spelling errors in “fiter” and inconsistent forms such as “sugarcane” and “sugar cane.” Aim for precise process collocations and vary verbs such as “pass through,” “convert” and “separate.” Proofread technical terms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect several stages in a sequence, and the opening sentence is a clear simple statement. However, grammatical control is uneven, and the long process sentence contains frequent structural and punctuation problems. For example, “firstly, sugarcane is grown … then is harvested after that is crushed” omits the subject in later clauses and does not clearly mark where one clause ends. The phrase “juice is purified juice subsequently” also repeats a noun in a way that disrupts the sentence structure. Capitalisation after the full stop is inconsistent, and commas are used where full stops are needed. Build the description with complete sentences, repeating or using clear pronouns for the subject, and check verb forms and punctuation.

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