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 below illustrates the process of making a water clock. Overall, to build your own water clock, water should go through distinct stages from collecting water from the tap to empty and repeat process for timing things.

Initially the apparatus should be set properly before the process. Thereafter, the bottle with an outlet properly set to collect water. The hole should be covered with the finger to stop the water from spilling. Afterwards the top bottle is filled to overflow and allow the level to be constant. Meanwhile, the finger is removed from the hole and levels are measured per minute. Last but not least the container is emptied and repeat the process for timing purposes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 117 words. This significantly impacts the development of the task. While the student identifies the main stages of the process, the description is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the mechanism of the water clock. Key technical aspects, such as the specific components or the relationship between the water level and time measurement, are under-developed. To improve, the student needs to expand on the steps provided in the diagram, ensuring a more comprehensive overview that meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two short paragraphs, which is insufficient for a clear report. While there is a basic attempt at logical progression using transition words like 'Initially', 'Thereafter', and 'Afterwards', the overall flow is somewhat disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. The lack of a clear introduction and a more structured body makes the text feel like a list of instructions rather than a cohesive report. Improving the use of cohesive devices and creating a more balanced paragraph structure would enhance the readability and logical flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is functional but basic. The student relies on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'process', 'water', and 'bottle'. There is little attempt to use more precise or technical vocabulary related to the diagram, such as 'apparatus', 'calibration', 'inflow', or 'graduated'. Phrases like 'empty and repeat process' are grammatically awkward and lack the sophistication expected at higher bands. To improve, the student should focus on incorporating topic-specific vocabulary and varying their word choices to describe the mechanical steps more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'to empty and repeat process' is missing an article and proper verb form, and 'the bottle with an outlet properly set to collect water' is a sentence fragment. There is a limited range of sentence structures, with most sentences being simple or slightly repetitive in construction. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequent errors in sentence structure and verb usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence variety and ensuring complete, grammatically correct sentences is essential.

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

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