Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-12

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how instant noodles are manufactured.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The picture illustrates the manufacturing of instant noodles.

Overall flour was carried to the factory with the help of large transports and stored in silos placed in the factory . However the first step was mixing . Flour was added in the bowl then water and oil are added at specific amount to make it a solid dough . Dough sheets are used in the next step to make dough flat . On the other hand , to make noodle discs dough was converted into the strips . The strips were rolled circularly to make discs . Whereas , noodle discs then undergo the process of cooking and drying to prepare it for packaging . The discs were prepared and transferred to the cups . The extra vegetables and spices were added to the cups . However labels are already prepared according to the choice of the owner . Labels are attached to the cups and sealed properly . The instant noodles are well prepared and ready to sell. The noodles are sold into different supermarkets and then eaten by the people .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses the main features of the diagram illustrating how instant noodles are manufactured. The overview is reasonably clear, noting the initial stage of flour storage and transport, and the response covers the sequence of steps from mixing, rolling, steaming, drying, packaging, to final sale. However, some details are slightly inaccurate or confusingly ordered, such as stating that 'dough sheets are used in the next step to make dough flat' and the sudden transition between cup preparation and labeling without clarifying the cyclical/parallel nature of the process. Overall, the content covers the required information well, meriting a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into a brief introduction/overview and a single large body paragraph. Cohesion is attempted through linking words and phrases such as 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'Whereas', but their usage is frequently mechanical or logically inappropriate (e.g., using 'However' to introduce the first step, or 'On the other hand' when contrasting two outcomes of the dough). Paragraphing is weak since the entire process is condensed into a continuous block of text rather than being broken down into logical stages (such as preparation, cooking, and packaging). This lack of clear paragraph structure and accurate cohesive devices keeps the score at Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'manufacturing', 'silos', 'dough', 'strips', 'discs', 'cooking', and 'packaging'. However, the range is limited and repetitive. There are several word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'flour was carried... with the help of large transports' instead of trucks/vehicles, 'water and oil are added at specific amount' (grammatical error in pluralization), and 'labels are already prepared according to the choice of the owner'. These minor lexical slips and the limited flexibility place this at Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though simple structures predominate. There are noticeable tense inconsistencies and mechanical errors throughout the text, such as shifting between past and present tenses ('Flour was carried' versus 'water and oil are added') and article omissions or pluralization errors (e.g., 'at specific amount', 'make noodle discs dough was converted'). Punctuation is also faulty in places, with misplaced spaces before periods and commas. Although these errors do not severely impede overall communication, their frequency prevents the writer from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.0 the most appropriate score.

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

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