Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-11

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 illustrate how a water clock was made by passes through different stages.

Overall, the process contained seven steps. The first step was the water in filled in an plastic bottle which ends with empty bottle.

Regarding the first step, the tap opened to filled the bottled which as attached by an iron stand and contained the hole in the bottom covered with finger until the bottle was overflow. A straw was present on the left side of the bottle, when water reached to this point called constant level and water flow out from the straw.

For instance, when the over flow start, remove finger from the hole so the water falls dropwise on the plastic bottle which kept on the stand and the neck of this bottle was cut off, while the speed of this drop was each drop fall in per minute.

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 the student attempts to describe the process, the explanation is fragmented and lacks a clear, logical progression through the seven steps mentioned. The description of the mechanism is confusing; for example, the explanation of the 'constant level' and the straw is difficult to follow. The overview is very brief and does not adequately summarize the key stages of the process. To improve, ensure all steps are clearly sequenced and described with sufficient detail to reach the word count and provide a comprehensive overview of the entire process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the logical flow between sentences is weak. Cohesive devices are used in a very limited and sometimes inaccurate way, such as 'Regarding the first step' and 'For instance', which do not appropriately connect the technical stages of the process. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the water clock construction. To improve, use a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, moving logically from one step to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'bottle', 'water', and 'step'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'water in filled in an plastic bottle' and 'the tap opened to filled the bottled'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the description. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise technical vocabulary related to the diagram (e.g., 'reservoir', 'overflow', 'graduated cylinder') and improve your control over word forms and sentence-level collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tenses ('The diagram illustrate'), article usage ('an plastic bottle'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'the tap opened to filled the bottled which as attached by an iron stand'. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in basic syntax. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, correct preposition use, and ensuring that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound.

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

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