Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-30

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 information about manufacturing of water clock is illustrate in the process chat.

Overall, Process contain seven steps starts with water tap and ends with collection of water in bicker.

At first, water from tap collected into bottle. After that, one straw attached into upper part of tha bottle with the help of glue. In addition ,Bottle is linked with metal stand via tape and minute hole is done in the bottom of the bottle.

Moving towards the remaining details, Bottle is filled with water . Although, One bicker is placed below the bottle and water is collected in that container. Apart from that, scale is marked on the bicker so that time is appear on the scale .However, Whole process is done with the help of the water and the waste plastic bottles . Ultimately, After tap on water flow is begin and in indicate the levels per minute .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description is somewhat superficial. While you identify the seven steps, the explanation of how the water clock functions is unclear. For instance, the phrase 'time is appear on the scale' is vague and does not explain the mechanism effectively. To improve, you should focus on describing the causal relationship between the water flow and the measurement of time more precisely. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the overall purpose or the key components involved in the mechanism.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. For example, 'Although' is used incorrectly at the start of a sentence to introduce a new step, and 'However' is used where it does not logically contrast with the previous statement. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, making the process feel like a list of isolated actions rather than a cohesive explanation of a system.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and contains several inaccuracies. Words like 'bicker' (likely meant 'beaker') and 'process chat' (likely meant 'process chart') suggest a lack of precision. There is also repetitive use of basic nouns like 'bottle' and 'water'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to technical processes and avoid spelling errors that impede clarity. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning but lacks the flexibility required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('the' is often omitted, e.g., 'from tap'), incorrect verb forms ('is illustrate', 'is begin'), and awkward sentence structures. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas and spaces. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often faulty, which affects the overall readability. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly 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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