Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-28

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 illustates how sugar is made by sugar cane. This entire process happens for making sugar.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that this is the linear process which has seven stages, which starts with growing sugar canes, and ends with drying and colling the sugar.

Initially, sugar canes are grown for 12 to 18 months. After that, sugar is harvested by two methods first one is by machinse and second is by human lebar. Subsiquently, sugar canes are crused by crusher and made sugar juice. There after, sugar juice is purifying by limestone filter. Following this, juice is heaten by hetter and juice becomes syrup. After that, sugar crystals is separates from syrup which called centrifuge. Finally it drying and cooling and sugar is ready. This is a complicated process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as having seven stages and give a relevant overview from growing cane to drying and cooling. You also include the 12–18-month growing period and both harvesting methods, which are important details. However, the response is under the required 150 words, and several later stages are only briefly described. For example, the account does not clearly explain that crushing produces juice, that heating turns it into syrup, or that the centrifuge separates sugar crystals from the remaining syrup. The final statement that it is “a complicated process” adds little factual information. Develop the stages more fully and make the transformation of the material clear at each step.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological description of the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “After that,” “Following this,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. This coherent progression supports the explanation, although the linking is somewhat mechanical because nearly every stage begins with a transition. Some connections are also unclear, particularly “After that, sugar crystals is separates from syrup which called centrifuge,” where the relationship between the machine and the separation is difficult to follow. Use a wider range of linking structures and connect each stage more precisely, while keeping the chronological order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “crusher,” “limestone filter,” “syrup,” and “centrifuge,” so the reader can recognise the main stages. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy, including “illustates,” “colling,” “machinse,” “lebar,” and “crused.” Some expressions are also imprecise: “made sugar juice” would be clearer as “produces juice,” and “juice is heaten by hetter” does not describe the heating stage naturally. Aim to use accurate process verbs and check spelling carefully. More precise terms for the transformations and equipment would make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic process report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few longer structures, such as “Overall, it can be clearly seen that this is the linear process which has seven stages,” and the sequence is generally understandable. However, the response relies mainly on simple sentences, and errors in verb forms and agreement occur repeatedly. For example, “sugar juice is purifying” needs a passive form, while “sugar crystals is separates” has both agreement and verb-form problems. “Finally it drying and cooling” is also incomplete as a sentence. Use accurate passive constructions consistently, since they are useful for describing processes, and vary sentence patterns by combining related stages. Check subject–verb agreement and ensure every sentence has a complete verb phrase.

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