Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-29

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 illustrates the manufacturing process for producing sugar from sugar cane. In this topic, we will discuss that how sugar is produced from sugar cane.

First of all, sugar canes takes round about one and half of a year for growing. After it, the process of harvesting have starting. The process of harvesting could be done by using machines or by your own hard working such as cutting trees using any helping material and harvest the sugar cane.

After harvesting the sugar canes, we have to crushing the sugar canes and we find juice after crushing. Then we have to purifying juice using limestone filter and then we evaporates the juice and juice becomes syrup. Centrifuging is the main process to create sugar. It helps to separate sugar crystals from syrup. At the end, the process of drying and cooling would be use for this work and sugar will be ready.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main stages in the correct general order, from growing and harvesting through crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. You also include the key growing period and explain that centrifuging separates crystals from syrup. However, the response does not give a clear overview of the process as a whole, and some details are inaccurate or unclear: harvesting is described as “cutting trees,” which is not what the diagram shows, and “centrifuging is the main process to create sugar” oversimplifies the role of that stage. The opening sentence about discussing the topic adds no useful information. To strengthen the report, summarise the process in an overview and describe each stage precisely, without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a broadly logical sequence, and linking phrases such as “First of all,” “After harvesting,” “Then,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. However, the response is arranged as two long paragraphs rather than clearly separating an introduction, overview, and process details. Some connections are mechanical, and “After it” is an unclear reference to the growing period. The repeated use of “we have to” also makes the description sound like instructions rather than a neutral report. Organise the information into purposeful paragraphs and use clear transitions that show how one stage leads to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “limestone filter,” “evaporates,” “syrup,” “centrifuging,” and “sugar crystals,” so the reader can identify the main operations. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “hard working,” “helping material,” and “cutting trees.” “In this topic, we will discuss” is also an unsuitable, repetitive phrase for an academic process report. Aim for precise process vocabulary and avoid conversational or vague wording. For example, describe harvesting methods as mechanical or manual, and use verbs such as “crush,” “filter,” and “separate” to report the stages directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the sequence using mostly simple clauses, with a few attempts to combine ideas, such as “It helps to separate sugar crystals from syrup.” However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make the process difficult to follow. Examples include “sugar canes takes,” “the process of harvesting have starting,” “we have to crushing,” and “we evaporates.” These show problems with subject–verb agreement, verb forms, and the patterns used after “have to.” There are also awkward tense and passive constructions, as in “would be use.” Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes and check agreement and verb forms in each sentence.

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