Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-17

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 illustrate the manufacturing process through seven steps for making sugar.

overall, This process contains on seven steps. The first step is Growing sugar canes. it is the main part of this process and then goes to harvesting , while passing through the other steps the process end on the drying and cooling.

Initial process of production sugar, First step is the growing sugar cane, it's the important stage of the production. Second stage is harvesting through different tools. Third step crushing, in this method sugar cane crushed and will be changed in juice. fourth step purifying juice, after crushing sugar cane juice will be produced and the in this method we will purifying this juice with the limestone filter.

Five stage of this process evaporator , juice will be passing from heat or boil and transfer into syrup. six stage centrifuge ,in this process sugar will be separates from syrup. Now the last stage drying and cooling , sugar is ready.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages in the correct order, from growing and harvesting through crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. You also include the key detail that sugar cane grows for 12–18 months and that limestone is used to filter the juice. The overview identifies the process as having seven steps and names its beginning and end, but it is partly unclear: calling growing “the main part” is not supported by the diagram, and the overview could better summarise the transformation from cane to juice, syrup, and sugar. Some stages are less fully described; for example, harvesting uses either a machine or hand tools, and the centrifuge separates crystals from syrup. Including these details would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by descriptions of the early and later stages. Sequencing words such as “First,” “Second,” and “last” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is sometimes repetitive and mechanical, with “step” and “stage” repeatedly introducing each sentence. The overview also repeats the opening’s reference to seven steps without adding much synthesis, while the body paragraphs do not clearly separate the growing and harvesting stages from the subsequent processing. Some links are awkward, such as “while passing through the other steps,” and punctuation around transitions is inconsistent. Grouping the stages into clear paragraphs and using a wider range of accurate links would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “crushing,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” “centrifuge,” and “drying and cooling,” so the reader can identify the stages. There are also attempts to describe changes, such as juice being “changed” into syrup. However, the range of verbs and collocations is limited, and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “the process end on,” “through different tools,” and “juice will be passing from heat” do not express the process clearly. Repetition of “process,” “step,” and “stage” also limits variety. Aim for precise process verbs and standard collocations, such as “is harvested,” “is filtered,” “is heated,” and “is converted into syrup.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer clauses, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, grammatical control is uneven, with errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries. For example, “The diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “This process contains on seven steps” has an incorrect construction. In “sugar cane crushed,” the passive verb form is incomplete, and “sugar will be separates” combines incompatible verb forms. Capitalisation after full stops is also inconsistent, as in “overall, This process” and “it is.” Use a consistent present simple passive for the stages, and check each sentence for a complete verb phrase and correct punctuation.

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