Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-31

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 given diagram illustrate how to construct your own water clock. It is clear

Overall, the process involves many steps starting from droping water droplets into bottle followed by other crucial steps and culminating at collecting water at plastic bottle.

To commence with, in initially step, the plastic bottle is filled with tap water binded with stand with the help of tape. After that, the hole on the bottom of the bottle is covered with finger to stop leaking water from bottle. Thereafter, the bottle is filled to the top so that water overflow and maintain the constant level.

In the subsequent steps, After constant level. In the next step put the finger away from the bottle, and water drops start dipping to the container right below the water bottle. and Calculated as level per minutes. At last step, repeat this process for timing things

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 score. While the report attempts to describe the process of building a water clock, the description is fragmented and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the stages shown in the diagram. Several steps are described in a confusing manner, such as the instruction to 'repeat this process for timing things,' which is vague. The overview is also underdeveloped and does not clearly synthesize the main stages of the process. To improve, you must ensure all steps are described with sufficient clarity and reach the minimum word count to provide a complete report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence with' and 'In the subsequent steps,' they are often followed by incomplete or grammatically incorrect sentences, such as 'In the subsequent steps, After constant level.' This makes the progression of ideas difficult to follow. The use of referencing is also weak, as the connection between the steps and the equipment mentioned is not always clear. Improving the transition between sentences and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices and incorrect collocations, such as 'binded with stand' instead of 'attached to a stand' and 'dipping to the container' instead of 'dripping into the container.' The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process accurately. To achieve a higher band, you should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to mechanical processes and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate. Expanding your range of descriptive language will help you convey the steps of the process more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('The given diagram illustrate'), incorrect verb forms ('droping'), and sentence fragments ('It is clear' followed by a new paragraph). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with misused periods and missing commas. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors. To improve, you need to focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that each sentence has a clear subject and verb, and work on mastering consistent verb tenses and proper punctuation to ensure your writing is grammatically sound.

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

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