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 diagram shows the process of building your own water clock. The whole process of building this have several stages. From opening the tap water to emptying and repeating the process for timing things.
Overall, there are 7 stages to building your own water clock and every stage is equally important to the whole process. Initial stage is opening the tap water and the final one emptying and repeating the process for timing things. The whole process follows an order which can't be missed.
Initially the building of it starts from opening the tap of water the plastic bottle is attached to pipe with tape. A straw is attached to the bottle. It is essential to cover the whole with the finger. Third stage is filling the top bottle to overflow it. The level of water should be constant and should be equal to where straw is attached.
The later stages are when you put your finger away so that drops of water can enter the bottom bottle. The bottom plastic bottle has its neck cut off and it's used for measuring. The final stage is emptying the both bottles and repeating the process again to time things.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description lacks the necessary precision required for a technical report. While you identify the seven stages, the explanation of how the components interact is somewhat vague. For instance, the instruction to 'cover the whole with the finger' is unclear, and the description of the water level mechanism is imprecise. To improve, ensure you clearly explain the function of each part (e.g., the purpose of the straw or the overflow mechanism) rather than just listing the steps. The overview is present but could be more descriptive of the actual mechanism rather than just stating the number of stages.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices like 'Initially', 'Third stage', and 'The later stages' to sequence the information. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'the whole' in the third paragraph). The transition between the preparation phase and the operational phase could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence clearly connects to the previous one without relying on repetitive structures.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic verbs like 'opening', 'attached', and 'putting'. There is some repetition of words like 'bottle' and 'process'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to diagrams and processes, such as 'positioned', 'secured', 'facilitates', or 'calibrated'. While the meaning is clear throughout, the range of vocabulary is limited, which prevents the response from achieving a higher score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The whole process of building this have several stages' (subject-verb agreement) and 'emptying the both bottles' (article usage). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'The level of water should be constant and should be equal to where straw is attached.' While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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