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Cambridge 15 Writing Task 1 Test 3 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)
Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
The Prompt
How Instant Noodles Are Manufactured
The diagram below shows how instant noodles are manufactured.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The Data
The manufacturing process of instant noodles
1. Mixing: Flour and water are combined and mixed to create a dough.
2. Rolling and cutting: The dough is rolled flat and cut into noodle strands, forming discs.
3. Cooking (steaming): The noodle discs are steamed at high temperature to pre-cook them.
4. Cooking (oil-frying): The steamed noodles are deep-fried to remove moisture and achieve the instant texture.
5. Cooling and inspection: Noodles are cooled and inspected for quality before packaging.
6. Packaging (cups): Noodles are placed in cups with vegetable and spice sachets added.
7. Labelling and sealing: Cups are labelled and sealed ready for distribution.
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177 wordsIdentifies the two-stage cooking method as the process's defining feature rather than just listing seven stages in order.
The diagram illustrates the process by which instant noodles are manufactured, from the initial mixing of ingredients to the final labelling and sealing of the packaged product.
Overall, the process consists of seven sequential stages, and it relies on two distinct cooking methods, steaming followed by oil-frying, to achieve the noodles' characteristic quick-cooking texture before they are packaged and prepared for distribution.
The process begins with mixing, in which flour and water are combined to form a dough. This dough is then rolled flat and cut into individual noodle strands, which are shaped into discs. These discs undergo two separate cooking stages: first they are steamed at a high temperature to pre-cook the noodles, and then they are deep-fried in oil, a step that removes moisture and gives instant noodles their distinctive quick-cooking texture.
Following these cooking stages, the noodles are cooled and inspected to ensure quality before being packaged into cups, along with sachets of vegetables and spices. Finally, the cups are labelled and sealed, completing the process and readying the product for distribution to retailers.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all seven stages accurately and in the correct sequence, with a precise overview identifying the two distinct cooking methods as the process's defining feature.
Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised strictly by sequence, with cohesive devices ("following these", "finally") signalling each stage naturally.
Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("characteristic quick-cooking texture", "readying the product", "sachets") used accurately throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including passive voice for describing each stage, used with full control.
Band 8
159 wordsAccurate and clearly sequenced, just slightly less precise in explaining the two cooking stages than a band 9 answer.
The diagram shows the stages involved in manufacturing instant noodles.
Overall, there are seven stages in the process, and the noodles go through two different cooking methods, steaming and then frying, before being packaged and prepared for sale.
First, flour and water are mixed together to make a dough. This dough is then rolled flat and cut into noodle strands, which are formed into discs. These discs are steamed at a high temperature to pre-cook them, and then they are deep-fried in oil, which removes moisture and gives the noodles their instant texture.
After frying, the noodles are cooled down and checked for quality before being packaged into cups with vegetable and spice sachets added. Finally, the cups are labelled and sealed, ready to be sent out for sale. This final labelling stage is important because it ensures that each cup carries clear information for the consumer, such as cooking instructions and a use-by date, before leaving the factory.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all seven stages accurately in the correct sequence with a clear overview, though the two-stage cooking method is stated a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by strictly sequential detail; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.
Lexical Resource: Good range of technical vocabulary for describing the process, though "gives the noodles their instant texture" is plainer than the higher-band answer's more precise phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.
Band 7
158 wordsAll seven stages are reported correctly and in order, but the overview stays descriptive rather than explaining why the process works this way.
The diagram gives information about how instant noodles are made.
Overall, there are seven steps in the process, and the noodles are cooked twice, once by steaming and once by frying, before they are packaged.
First, flour and water are mixed to make dough. The dough is then rolled flat and cut into noodle strands, which become discs. These discs are steamed to cook them a little, and then they are fried in oil, which takes out the moisture and makes them into instant noodles.
After this, the noodles are cooled and checked to make sure they are good quality, and then they are put into cups with vegetables and spices added. Finally, the cups are labelled and sealed so they can be sent to shops. This final step makes sure that each cup has clear information for customers, such as how to cook the noodles and how long they will stay fresh, before they leave the factory.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all seven stages accurately in the correct sequence with a basic overview, but the overview does not explain why two separate cooking methods are needed.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by sequence, though "then" and "which" are relied on repeatedly to link stages throughout.
Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; stages are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.
Band 6.5
158 wordsAll seven stages are correct and in order, but agreement and passive-voice errors appear in almost every sentence.
The diagram give information about how instant noodle is make.
Overall, there is seven step in the process, and the noodle is cook twice, once by steaming and once by frying, before they are package.
First, flour and water is mix to make dough. The dough is then roll flat and cut into noodle strand, which become disc. This disc is steam to cook it a little, and then it is fry in oil, which take out the moisture and make it into instant noodle.
After this, the noodle is cool and check to make sure it is good quality, and then it is put into cup with vegetable and spice add. Finally, the cup is label and seal so it can be send to shop. This final step make sure that each cup have clear information for customer, such as how to cook the noodle and how long it will stay fresh, before it leave the factory.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all seven stages accurately in the correct sequence, matching the content of the band 7 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by sequence, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.
Lexical Resource: Limited by "step", "disc" and "cup" being used without their plural forms throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement and passive-voice errors ("diagram give", "there is seven step", "flour and water is mix", "the disc is steam") appear in nearly every sentence.
Band 4-5 - What to Avoid
45 wordsFour of the seven stages are missing entirely, and it closes with a personal opinion rather than describing the process.
This diagram show how noodle is make in factory.
They mix flour and water, then cook it and put in cup.
I think instant noodle is easy to eat and cheap, this is why many people like it, this is my opinion about this topic.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: The two separate cooking stages (steaming and frying) are merged into one vague step, cooling, inspection, and labelling are never mentioned, and the closing comment is a personal opinion that has no place in a process description. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.
Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than an organised sequence of stages.
Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("cook it", "put in cup") used instead of the specific technical terms shown in the diagram.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("diagram show", "noodle is make in factory").
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