Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-04

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 given picture illustrates the process of water clock made with natural method.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is dearly evident that the process begin from turning tap on, so the water is started filling in bottle and it culminates commence, when level per minute is formed and time to repeat process again.

To commence with, in the first step take a stand and pull a bottle on top of it with the help of tape. Then turn tap on to fill the water in jar. Therefore, make a tiny hole in the bottom of bottle and cover it with finger. Moreover, fill water to the top of bottle, so it can over flow and drain through the straw.

Following this, in the fourth step, the straw helps to constant the level of water. Furthermore, the finger take away from hole, so the drops can drain into plastic bottle which is inside the front bottle and have neck cut off. Nextly, draw the levels per minute on the bottle. Lastly, the plastic bottle become empty and repeat process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description is often unclear or inaccurate. For instance, the explanation of the straw's function and the purpose of the inner bottle is confusingly phrased, making it difficult for the reader to visualize the mechanism. While the response identifies the key steps, the lack of precision in describing the technical process means the information is not fully developed or clearly conveyed. To improve, focus on accurately describing the relationship between the components, such as how the straw maintains a constant water level, rather than just listing actions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. Phrases like 'To commence with', 'Therefore', and 'Nextly' (which is not standard English) feel forced and do not always create logical links between sentences. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between filling the bottle and the straw mechanism is abrupt. Improving the variety and naturalness of linking words would significantly enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'natural method' instead of 'manual process', and 'pull a bottle' instead of 'attach' or 'secure'. The phrase 'time to repeat process again' is imprecise. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic steps, it lacks the precision and range expected for an Academic Task 1 report. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more specific technical vocabulary related to processes and mechanisms, and ensure collocations are natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage ('the water is started filling in bottle'), verb forms ('the finger take away'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain errors in complex construction, such as 'it culminates commence, when level per minute is formed'. Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would be beneficial.

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