Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-01

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 process by which Sugar cane is produced/manufactured.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with growing stage and ending with drying and cooling stage. It is a linear process.

Initially, Growing stage takes place from 12 to 18 months. Following this, Harvesting stage is carried out, after which the material is transferred for crushing process by cutting machine then it is transfered to sugar cane for obtaining juice. This stage helps the sugar cane cut into pieces for various processes.

In the following stage, The juice has been carried out for purifying by using Limestone filter. Once this process has been completed, Evaporator takes place the juice will heated at certain temperature where juice becomes syrup. Then, the Centrifuge stage takes place where it seprates sugar crystals from sugar. This process continues until the final stage. Finally, the Drying and cooling stage occurs where it is dried and cooled is produced and is ready for distribution.

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 to drying and cooling. You also include the 12–18-month growing period and mention several key operations, including filtering, evaporation and centrifuging. However, some important details are missing or unclear: the two harvesting methods (mechanical and manual) are not described, and the crushing stage is inaccurately explained as cutting the cane into pieces rather than extracting juice. The account of centrifuging also says crystals are separated “from sugar,” whereas the diagram shows separation from syrup. To strengthen the response, report each stage precisely and explain the main transformation from cane to juice, syrup and finally sugar.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by a chronological account, and sequencing phrases such as “Initially,” “Following this,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. The overall progression is generally clear, but some links between stages are awkward or unclear. For example, “after which the material is transferred for crushing process by cutting machine then it is transfered to sugar cane” makes the movement and reference of the material difficult to follow. The final sentence also combines drying, cooling and distribution without a clear relationship. Use one sentence per stage or group closely related stages, and make references such as “the juice” and “the resulting syrup” explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “purifying,” “Limestone filter,” “Evaporator,” “Centrifuge,” and “drying and cooling,” which helps communicate the subject. However, several word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive. “Sugar cane is produced/manufactured” misidentifies the product, since sugar is produced from sugar cane, and “the juice has been carried out for purifying” is not a natural way to describe filtration. “Cutting machine” is also less accurate than a crusher, while “ready for distribution” adds information not shown in the diagram. Aim for precise process verbs such as “extract,” “filter,” “heat,” and “separate,” and check spelling, including “transferred” and “separates.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “where it separates sugar crystals” and time clauses such as “Once this process has been completed.” However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms are frequent enough to make some stages difficult to understand. For example, “the juice will heated” needs a passive form (“will be heated”), and “Evaporator takes place the juice…” joins ideas without a grammatical link. The final clause, “where it is dried and cooled is produced,” is also structurally incomplete. Practise forming clear passive sentences for processes, such as “The juice is heated until it becomes syrup,” and check articles, agreement and sentence boundaries.

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.