Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-20

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 illustrates the method of build a own water clock.

Overall, the process consists of several stages of water clock, beginning with the tap and ending with measuring the time using the movement of water.

To begin with, takes a stand and a plastic bottle with a bottom hole . Firstly on the tap and fix the bottle for put on the water and cover the hole with the finger ,then fill the top of the bottle to overflow, another side fix straw with the glue .now check the level of the bottle.

Then , the another plastic container cuts off neck and fix bottom of the bottle. Now finger away from the hole and measured the levels of water per minute. Repeat this process when upper bottle is empty and note the time. Finally the marked level can be used for read the approximate time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student attempts to describe the process, the explanation is often unclear and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the mechanism of the water clock. Key steps, such as the purpose of the straw or the specific calibration process, are described in a fragmented manner, making it difficult for a reader to follow the instructions. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to provide a clear summary of the process. To improve, the student should expand on the steps and ensure the description is comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'another side fix straw' or 'now check the level'. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the transition between the preparation of the bottle and the measurement phase. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which container is being referred to at different stages. More varied and precise linking words are needed to improve the flow and logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'fix', 'put', and 'make'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'method of build a own water clock' instead of 'method of building one's own water clock'. The student struggles to use precise technical vocabulary appropriate for a process description. To reach a higher band, the student needs to incorporate a wider range of vocabulary related to processes and measurements, and focus on using words in their correct grammatical form and context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with article usage ('a own water clock'), verb forms ('method of build'), and sentence structure ('Firstly on the tap and fix the bottle'). The writing relies almost exclusively on simple sentence structures, with very few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces placed incorrectly before commas. A significant improvement in basic grammatical accuracy and the inclusion of more complex sentence structures are required to achieve a higher score.

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

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