Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 diagram illustrates the process for making a water clock from the plastic bottle.

overall, for creating the water it takes seven steps and we require two plastic bottles, straw, glue, stand and tape.

first step creating for creating the water clock is to place a plastic bottle below the water tap and create hole at bottom and near the neck area placing it at upper part of stand and below a plastic bottle with neck cut off. In second step we have to place finger at hole at the bottom. Third step will be to let the water over flow. four step will require water to reach at constant level as excess water will spill through the straw. In the Fifth step we will have to remove the finger away from the hole and let water flow in the bottle below. In the sixth step we have to create level in neck cut bottle according to per minute. And the final step will be to empty and repeat process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the presentation is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the mechanism's purpose. While you identify the seven steps, the description of the equipment is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure you provide a more cohesive summary of the process in the introduction and ensure that the relationship between the components (e.g., how the straw acts as an overflow mechanism) is explained more clearly. The instructions are followed, but the lack of a formal structure and the repetitive nature of the step-by-step listing limit the depth of the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised sequentially, which is appropriate for a process description. However, the paragraphing is non-existent, as the entire response is presented as a single block of text. The use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on 'first step', 'second step', and 'third step'. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'once this is complete') and group related steps into distinct paragraphs to improve the overall flow and readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is functional but limited. You use basic terms like 'create', 'place', and 'thing', which are repetitive. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'create level in neck cut bottle', which is unclear. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to processes and construction, such as 'assemble', 'position', 'calibrate', or 'excess'. Expanding your range of verbs and nouns will help you describe the process with greater precision and sophistication, moving away from simple, repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the water tap', 'at bottom'), prepositions, and verb forms ('creating for creating'). Some sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation, which affects the clarity of the instructions. To improve, focus on using a mix of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice, which is standard for process descriptions. Additionally, proofread to ensure consistent subject-verb agreement and correct article usage, as these errors occur throughout the text.

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