Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-10

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)

This diagram illustrates the process of making a water clock . The first stage is opening a tape in such a way that water pours in a bottle . The bottle is attached to a steel rod and straw is attached on the upper side bottle through which water is coming out . Bottle is attached to the rod with a tape and straw is glued to the bottle . Make a hole on the lower side of bottle and cover hole with the finger until the water in bottle start to overflow .

Put a plastic bottle under the jar whose neck is cut off . And draw the level constant lines on the lower bottle . Take your finger away from the hole . And water starts to pour in the lower bottle with the same speed as the water is pouring in the upper bottle . At what level water reached on the lower bottle is the time . And if you to repeat the process make the bottle empty and it will start again .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks a clear overview or introduction that summarizes the purpose of the diagram. The description is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision required for a technical report. For example, the instructions regarding the 'tape' and 'straw' are slightly confusing, and the explanation of how the time is measured is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should provide a clear opening statement and ensure the sequence of steps is described with more logical flow and technical accuracy, focusing on the relationship between the components rather than just listing actions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is a reasonable approach. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. There is a heavy reliance on simple sentence structures and repetitive transitions like 'The bottle is attached to...'. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and some sentences feel disconnected from the previous ones. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'subsequently', 'once this is complete', 'as a result') to guide the reader through the process more smoothly and logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is functional but basic and repetitive. Words like 'attached', 'bottle', and 'water' are used frequently, which limits the sophistication of the report. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'opening a tape' (likely meaning 'removing a seal' or 'unblocking') and 'draw the level constant lines'. To achieve a higher score, you need to use more precise, process-oriented vocabulary such as 'secure', 'affix', 'calibrate', 'graduated markings', and 'flow rate'. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns will make your writing more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies almost exclusively on simple sentences. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'straw is attached on the upper side bottle' (missing 'of the'), 'water in bottle start to overflow' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'if you to repeat' (missing 'want'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes, while ensuring that basic subject-verb agreement and article usage are accurate.

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

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