Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-07

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 5.0)

The diagram illustrastes the process of creating a water clock. Overall, there are 7 steps, beginning from collecting water drips from a tap and ending up with undoing the process again for timing purpose.

Regarding the preparation, a bottle with a hole is adjacted, to a stand by a tape. Below its bottleneck, a straw is connected by glue. A plastic bottle without the neck is put lower of the former one with levels measure levels.

In the first 3-stages, water is collected by a tap with dripping flow one by one, then covering the hole with your finger to filling up the bottle to overflow. In term of the last stages, when the water reached to place of the straw, put your finger away from the hole. Finally, checking levels each minute. In the end, pouring away the water and repeating the process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have attempted to describe the process, the description is somewhat fragmented and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the mechanical steps shown in the diagram. For instance, the explanation of the 'first 3-stages' is confusing and does not clearly link the physical actions to the resulting function of the water clock. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the equipment and a clearer, step-by-step chronological account of the process, ensuring all key features of the diagram are described accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into three short paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is often unclear. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as 'In the first 3-stages' and 'In term of the last stages'. Some sentences feel disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the process. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that contributes to the overall logical flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices or incorrect collocations, such as 'adjacted' (likely meant 'attached'), 'timing purpose', and 'timing things'. These errors occasionally hinder the clarity of your description. To achieve a higher band score, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to processes and diagrams, and work on improving your control over word forms and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. Examples include 'The diagram illustrastes' (spelling), 'is adjacted, to a stand by a tape' (incorrect punctuation and word choice), and 'put lower of the former one' (awkward phrasing). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like spelling and incorrect prepositional phrases. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help boost your score.

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

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