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 diagram illustrates the process of instant noodles formation.

Overall, the process occurs in eight main stages. Moreover, the main ingredient used is flour along with vegetables and spices.

Looking closely into the details, the process of manufacturing of noodels start when flour stored in storage silos mixes by a mixer with water and oil in stage 2. Furthermore, the prepared mixer passes through rollers and dough sheets are prepared in stage 3. In stage 4 long, thin dough strips are prepared, follwed by placing the stripes on noodles discs in stage 5, while on discs noodles are dried and cooked with oil. Meanwhile, the noodles then put in cups in similar stage 6. Stage 7 is the stage of mixing noodles with vegetables and spices. The last and final step 8 is for labelling and sealing the cups.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the instant noodle manufacturing process, identifying the eight stages and key materials such as flour, water, oil, vegetables, and spices. An overview is successfully provided, noting the total number of stages and primary ingredients. However, the response falls short of the minimum 150-word requirement, containing only 139 words. This under-length impacts task achievement as some steps, particularly the transition between stages 5 and 6, are described rather briefly and lack full development. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand on the specific mechanical details shown in the diagram and ensure the word count exceeds the required threshold.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, an overview sentence, and a chronological body of details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', 'Meanwhile', and 'The last and final step' are utilised to guide the reader through the linear diagram. However, paragraphing is weak, as the entire body of the process is squashed into a single overly dense paragraph. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally repetitive or vague, as seen in the phrase 'while on discs noodles are dried and cooked with oil. Meanwhile, the noodles then put in cups in similar stage 6'. Improving paragraph division by grouping early preparation stages separately from packaging stages would enhance overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing a simple industrial process, using terms like 'storage silos', 'rollers', 'dough sheets', 'labelling', and 'sealing'. There are, however, a few noticeable spelling errors ('noodels', 'follwed', 'stripes') and awkward collocations, such as 'instant noodles formation' instead of 'manufacture' or 'production'. Word choice is sometimes repetitive, relying heavily on the word 'stage'. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the mechanics of the process, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher band levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The text contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'flour stored in storage silos mixes by a mixer'). However, there are frequent grammatical inaccuracies, particularly with passive voice constructions ('mixes by a mixer' instead of 'is mixed by a machine') and missing prepositions ('the noodles then put in cups'). Punctuation and word-form errors are also present, such as comma splices and incorrect verb forms ('start' instead of 'starts'). These errors occasionally cause minor confusion, though communication is generally maintained throughout the response.

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.