Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-05

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 diagram illustrates the process of creating a water clock.

Overall, the whole process consists of serveral steps and it start from tap on and end with empty and depeat process for timing things.

To create our own clock by using water, we need a plastic bottle with hole in its bottom side, a straw, which will be fixed to this bottle, a stand and half plastic bottle with neck cut off. Plastic bottle with syraw will be taped at the top right under the tap and half plastic bottle is the bottom of the stand. We will then start our process by setting tap on while covering the hole of tapped bottle with finger.

After this, we will fill top bottle to overflow through straw which is fixed and there water level stay constant. Following this, we will take away our finger from the hole and bottom bottle will levels per minute. We will empty and repeat the process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the process, including the necessary materials and the operational steps. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, professional tone suitable for a university lecturer. While the key components (bottle, straw, stand) are mentioned, the explanation of the mechanism—specifically how the water level remains constant and how the timing function works—is slightly confusing and lacks precision. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the components is described more clearly, perhaps by using more descriptive verbs to explain the flow of water and the function of the overflow mechanism.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction and a summary of the steps. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'After this', 'Following this'). Additionally, some sentences are disjointed, such as 'Plastic bottle with syraw will be taped at the top right under the tap and half plastic bottle is the bottom of the stand.' Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring clear referencing would enhance the overall cohesion of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. There are several spelling errors, such as 'serveral' instead of 'several', 'depeat' instead of 'repeat', and 'syraw' instead of 'straw'. The phrasing is often simplistic, relying on basic verbs like 'make', 'start', and 'take away'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to processes and mechanisms, such as 'assemble', 'facilitate', 'constant', 'regulated', and 'subsequently'. The current range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the sophistication required for higher scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'it start from tap on and end with empty and depeat process' is grammatically incorrect and confusing. There are also issues with article usage ('fill top bottle', 'with hole in its bottom') and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, correct article usage, and proofreading for minor slips would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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.