Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the process for making a water clock.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN WATER CLOCK

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The Given Diagram Illustrates the formation own water clock for that we have to take several different simple steps

Firstly under the tap put plastic bottle at top of stand with the help of tape make hole at the bottom of that bottle from where small drops of water goes down to other container in the third step make hole at top of plastic bottles and put straw in that hole with glue from that droplets of water come out which mantain the level of water

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 86 words long. Consequently, the description of the process is significantly underdeveloped. While the student attempts to outline the steps of the water clock, the lack of length prevents a full description of the process. The response lacks an overview of the procedure and fails to detail all the components shown in the diagram. To improve, the student must expand on each stage of the process, ensuring all visual information is described in detail, and provide a clear introductory summary of the overall mechanism.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response lacks a clear paragraph structure, appearing as a single block of text. While there is a basic attempt at sequencing using 'Firstly' and 'in the third step', the overall progression is disjointed. The lack of cohesive devices makes the relationship between the steps difficult to follow. The text would benefit from clear paragraphing—separating the introduction, the main stages of the process, and a concluding summary—and the use of a wider range of linking words to connect the procedural steps more logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'put', 'make', and 'small'. There is little evidence of the technical or descriptive vocabulary required for a process description. For example, instead of 'put plastic bottle', more precise language such as 'position the plastic bottle' or 'secure the container' would be more appropriate. The student needs to incorporate more varied and precise verbs and nouns related to construction and measurement to improve the lexical range and demonstrate a better command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is characterized by frequent errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and article usage. Many sentences are run-on or lack necessary articles, such as 'formation own water clock' instead of 'formation of a water clock'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the existing simple sentences often contain grammatical inaccuracies that hinder the flow of the text. To achieve a higher score, the student should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct subject-verb agreement, proper use of articles, and the integration of complex sentences using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions.

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