Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-28

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 provided layout elucidates the information regarding the manufacturing of water clock.

Overall, it is evident that there is a lot of apparatus required to carry on the water clock, including, a tap, plastic bottle, glue, a straw, tape, Stand and another bottle with neck cut off.

The bottle without its neck is attached at the bottom of stand and another whole bottle is taped with a hole, to the same stand at a small distance of few centimeters from the other bottle. After that, a straw is attached to the neck of the upper bottle so that the bottle could not overflow.

Once that is done,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is significantly under-length at 107 words. Furthermore, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence. While the introduction and the list of materials are present, the description of the process is truncated and fails to cover the entire diagram. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you must ensure you describe all stages of the process shown in the diagram and reach the required word count to fully develop your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows some attempt at logical organization by introducing the topic and listing the materials. However, the abrupt ending severely disrupts the flow and coherence of the report. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, 'After that' is used to sequence steps, but the lack of a completed structure makes the overall progression unclear. To achieve a higher band, you need to ensure that your ideas are fully developed and linked together in a complete, well-structured essay that follows a logical sequence from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for describing the process, such as 'apparatus', 'manufacturing', and 'elucidates'. However, there are some awkward collocations, such as 'carry on the water clock' instead of 'construct the water clock'. The range of vocabulary is limited by the brevity of the text. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical terms related to the diagram and avoid repetitive phrasing. Using a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe the assembly process would demonstrate a stronger lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are grammatical errors, such as 'the manufacturing of water clock' (missing an article) and 'another whole bottle is taped with a hole, to the same stand' (incorrect punctuation). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable. To improve, focus on consistent use of articles and correct prepositional usage. Additionally, ensure that your sentences are punctuated correctly to enhance clarity and demonstrate better control over complex structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.