Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-01
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 pictorial representation shows the process of making water clock. The process begins with a running tap whose water is being collected in a plastic bottle that is attached to a stand below it.This bottle has a hole at the bottom for water releasing. There is also a straw connected to this bottle for overflowed water Or to maintain a constant level of water. Then ,collected water is released drop by drop from the hole of the bottle to another bottle, that is placed below the plastic bottle.Now observe the levels of water per minute for timing calculations. For new timing things, empty the bottles and repeat the same process from initial stage.
In conclusion, the process is completed in seven steps, if any step is not done perfectly there will be errors in the observing results, so precautions should be taken while dealing with this process of making water clock.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks a clear overview or summary of the overall mechanism. The description is somewhat superficial, failing to highlight the key components like the stand, the measuring scale, or the specific function of the overflow straw in relation to the timing mechanism. While the steps are mentioned, the explanation of how the water clock actually functions as a time-keeping device is underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more comprehensive overview of the process and ensure that all technical details in the diagram are accurately described and linked to the final purpose of the device.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into two paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the description of the components and the actual operation of the clock is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Then' and 'Now', but they are somewhat mechanical and do not always create a smooth flow between sentences. The concluding paragraph introduces new information about 'precautions' and 'errors', which is not relevant to a descriptive report of a process. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms like 'making', 'thing', and 'process'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'water releasing' instead of 'water drainage' or 'water discharge'. To improve, you should incorporate more technical and precise vocabulary related to diagrams and processes, such as 'apparatus', 'calibrated', 'facilitate', or 'constant flow'. The range is currently limited, which restricts your ability to describe the mechanism with the necessary academic tone required for a university-level report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the process of making water clock' is missing an article, and 'overflowed water Or to maintain' contains an unnecessary capital letter and awkward phrasing. There are also issues with punctuation, such as missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, proper article usage, and consistent punctuation will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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