Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-04

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

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN WATER CLOCK

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The diagram provides an overview of a how we can make water clock in our own home. The diagram shows how the tap , bottle and whole ensure the flow of water from bottle to measuring baker.

The water enters the the bottle from its top and then it flows down from the whole to the measuring baker which located at the bottom of stand.

Firstly placed the bottle with the stand with the help of tape and also fix the straw at the upper part of the water. Through this we can easily balance the level of water in the bottle . Then made a whole in the bottom of the bottle. Finally placed the labeled plastic bottle at the lower side of the strand.

So put the finger at the whole of the bottle and fill it with water which comes continuously from the tap. When the bottle balanced with water then remove the finger from whole to allow the water flows down and record the measurements after every minute. Now water clock is ready and empty the bottle for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear overview. While the steps are generally identifiable, the explanation of the mechanism is confusing. For instance, the instruction to 'put the finger at the whole' is informal and lacks the precision expected in an academic report. The response would benefit from a clearer introduction that summarizes the purpose of the apparatus and a more logical, step-by-step description of the assembly process. Some details, such as the 'measuring baker' (likely a beaker), are unclear, and the overall technical explanation is underdeveloped.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'Finally'). Some sentences are difficult to follow due to awkward phrasing, such as 'Through this we can easily balance the level of water in the bottle.' The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track the sequence of the assembly. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words to show the relationship between the steps, such as 'subsequently', 'once', or 'thereafter'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and contains several errors that hinder clarity. There are frequent spelling mistakes, such as 'whole' instead of 'hole' and 'baker' instead of 'beaker'. The word choice is often imprecise; for example, 'timing things' is too informal for an academic context. While the student attempts to describe the components, the lack of accurate technical terminology limits the effectiveness of the report. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using precise nouns and verbs related to scientific processes and ensure correct spelling of key terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include incorrect article usage ('the the bottle'), subject-verb agreement ('placed the bottle' instead of 'place the bottle'), and awkward sentence construction. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors makes the text feel unpolished and impacts the overall readability. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for articles and verb tenses would significantly improve the quality of your writing.

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