Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-21

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 illustrate the manufacturing process of making sugar from sugar cane. This process is divided into seven steps from growing sugarcane to drying and cooling the sugar crystals.

Initially, the sugar canes are grown for about 12 10 18 months. after that, it get into second step which is harvesting the sugar canes, then it get into next step in which sugar canes crushed into a machine. to extract the juice.

In third step, the extrated juice is passing through limestone filter to purify the juice to remove the impurities. following this in fourth step the purified juice is heated in evaporator, in this step water get eveporate and the juice become thick syrup.

Afterward, the syrup get processed into centrifuge to seperate sugar crystals from syrup. finally, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled in to large containers. once this stage is completed it is ready to use.

In conclusion, Sugar is manufactued from sugarcane to folllowing the multiple stages from harvesting, crushing sugarcanes, purifying, evaporation to centrifuge the syrup.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main sequence from growing sugar cane through harvesting, crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. It also correctly reports the 12–18-month growing period and explains that evaporation turns the juice into syrup. However, some stages are less fully described: the two harvesting methods (mechanical and manual) are omitted, and the centrifuge’s role in separating crystals from syrup could be stated more precisely. The final claim that the sugar is ready to use is not shown in the diagram. The overview identifies seven steps, but a clearer summary of the process’s start, end, and key transformation would make the main features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence and uses separate paragraphs to group the early stages, processing stages, and conclusion. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Afterward,” and “finally” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression is sometimes weakened by inaccurate or repetitive stage references: purification is called the “third step” even though it is the fourth, and the conclusion repeats the sequence rather than adding a concise overview. Some transitions are awkward, including “following this in fourth step,” while the sentence fragment “To extract the juice” interrupts the flow. More consistent stage numbering and smoother links between complete sentences would make the organisation clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” “syrup,” and “sugar crystals,” which allows the reader to understand the main stages. It also attempts more specific terms such as “impurities.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, for example “extrated,” “eveporate,” “seperate,” and “manufactued.” Some combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “get processed into centrifuge” and “dried and cooled in to large containers.” Repetition of “step,” “juice,” and “sugar canes” also limits range. More accurate process verbs and collocations would make the description more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries occur across the response. For example, “This diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “it get into second step” and “water get eveporate” have faulty verb forms and missing articles. The opening time expression, “12 10 18 months,” is also grammatically unclear. Punctuation creates a fragment in “To extract the juice,” and several sentences begin with lowercase words after full stops. These errors sometimes make the process harder to follow. Practise accurate passive constructions, which are useful for process descriptions, and check each sentence for a complete clause.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.