Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-16

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 depicts the process of how to build a water clock.

In the first stage, tap on, and water is stored into a plastic bottle. Then, at the bottom of the bottle, a small hole is convered by finger. In the third stage, the plastic bottle is filled by water untill overflow at the certain level, which is marked by a straw. After that, glue is applied at the end of straw which is connected with the bottle, and constant the level of water.

In the fifth stage, remove finger from bottom of the bottle, and water is contained into a another plastic bottle. Subsequently, levels per minute is spotted by a pencil which is indicate the time. In the final stage, the first plastic bottle is empty and repeat this process after filling back water into the bottle.

Overall, this process consists of seven different stages. In the begining, water is stored into the plastic bottle, while it ends with water is 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 description is often unclear or inaccurate. For example, stating 'tap on, and water is stored' is confusing, and the explanation of the straw's function is vague. The process is described in a way that makes it difficult for a reader to actually follow the instructions, which is a key requirement for a process description. While all stages are mentioned, the lack of clarity in explaining the mechanics of the water clock means the information is not fully developed or accurately conveyed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response uses basic cohesive devices such as 'In the first stage', 'Then', and 'Subsequently' to organize the text. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed due to grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. Paragraphing is used, but the logical flow within paragraphs is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and unclear referencing. For instance, the transition between the fifth stage and the final stage is abrupt. The overall structure is present, but the connections between sentences are often mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms like 'plastic bottle' and 'water'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'water is contained into a another plastic bottle' and 'levels per minute is spotted'. The student attempts to use process-related vocabulary, but the lack of precision makes the description feel unnatural. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use more varied and precise terminology related to mechanical processes and measurements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with passive voice construction ('water is stored into', 'hole is convered by finger'), article usage, and subject-verb agreement ('levels per minute is spotted'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is generally functional, but the grammatical control is not strong enough to support a higher band. The errors are noticeable and occur throughout the text, requiring the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning.

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