Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-27

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 given diagram illustrates us the method of making water clock. In diagram we saw each process step wise.

Overall, for the manufacturing of water clock we required a tap, straw, plastic bottle, tape, glue, stand and half cut plastic bottle. The whole process consist of seven steps. Each step lead to the build of water clock.

First of all we have to open the tap and allow water to flow drop wise. And then cover the hole with our finger. Then we have to fill the top bottle so it overflows. The water flow out from the straw that is attached with bottle through glue. Then the water level in top bottle become constant. Then we will remove our finger from the hole.

Water starts falling drop wise into the half cut bottle placed below. This bottle take a minute to reach a certain level. We will mark that level and in this way we have successfully prepared a water clock. To check multiple minute we will empty the below bottle and repeat the same process.

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. While you mention the materials, you do not clearly explain the underlying principle of the water clock (the constant flow rate). The description of the steps is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. For instance, describing the process as 'making a water clock' is acceptable, but the explanation of how the water level becomes 'constant' is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure you provide a more analytical summary of the process rather than just a list of instructions, and focus on the functional relationship between the components.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with frequent use of 'Then' and 'And then' to start sentences. This creates a simplistic flow. While the progression of steps is logical, the lack of varied linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'once the water reaches') makes the writing feel disjointed. Improving the variety of transition signals and ensuring better referencing between the components of the diagram would significantly enhance the coherence of your report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple verbs like 'making', 'allow', 'fill', and 'remove'. There is a lack of more precise, academic vocabulary suitable for a process description (e.g., 'assemble', 'calibrate', 'regulate', 'orifice', 'reservoir'). Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'illustrates us the method' (should be 'illustrates the method') and 'step wise'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more specific terminology related to mechanical processes and avoid informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'we required a tap' (should be 'are required' or 'you require'), 'water flow out' (should be 'flows'), and 'water level... become constant' (should be 'becomes'). There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic tense consistency and pluralization.

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