Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-13

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 given demonstrates the procedure using different steps of developing your own water clock.

Overall, there are 7 steps procedure of building a water clock on your own. For this process, you need a tap for water, a plastic bottle with a hole in it attached to the stand by using tape, a straw attached to the upper side of bottle by glue and a beaker for level measurement.

To begin the process, turn the tap on for the water flow, and then cover the hole on the plastic bottle with the help of your finger producing pressure. After filling water in the bottle to the overflow, let the level of water remain constant for some time. When the pressure is developed completely, remove your finger from hole and let the water drain out through hole and straw in form of droplets.

After that, when water started filling in the beaker through hole, measure the level of water per minute. At the end, empty the beaker and repeat the process for timing things.

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 of the mechanism's purpose or the overall nature of the process. While the steps are generally described, the explanation of the 'pressure' mechanism is slightly confusing and lacks the technical precision expected in an Academic Task 1 report. The description of the equipment is functional but could be more integrated into the process description rather than listed as a separate inventory. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the key stages of the water clock's operation more clearly and maintain a more formal, objective tone throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, a body paragraph describing the setup, and a final paragraph detailing the operation. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin the process', 'After that', and 'At the end' helps guide the reader through the sequence. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the 'pressure' and the 'droplets' could be more fluidly expressed to improve the overall flow of the explanation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. Phrases like 'timing things' are too informal and vague for an academic report. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'attached' and 'filling'. While the student successfully uses terms like 'constant', 'procedure', and 'measurement', the range is limited. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to scientific processes and avoid colloquial phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'there are 7 steps procedure' (should be 'a 7-step procedure') and 'water started filling' (should be 'water starts filling' for consistency). Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'through hole' instead of 'through the hole'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The student should focus on article usage and maintaining consistent verb tenses when describing a process.

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

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