Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-07

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)

Following is the complete guide for making your own water clock:

The process instruments include a standard size stand a plastic bottle glue straw a second plastic bottle with it's neck cut off a tape a water source like a tap.First of all make a small hole in the plastic bottle and insert a straw in it.Now make a second hole on the bottom side of the bottle and attack the bottle on the top end of the strand using the tap.Place the second cut off bottle exactly below the first bottle and start filling first bottle with tap water and place your finger on the bottom hole so water doesn't fall down.Fill the bottle with water until it starts to overflow.Now remove your finger away from the hole and record water levels in second cutt off bottle per minute.Now.empty the bottom bottle and continue to use this process for timings things.Congratulations you created your own water clock.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main steps of the process, but it lacks the formal tone required for an academic report. The introduction is informal, and the conclusion, 'Congratulations you created your own water clock,' is inappropriate for an academic task. Furthermore, the description of the process is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the mechanism's purpose or the stages involved. To improve, you should focus on describing the process objectively, using passive voice where appropriate, and ensuring the report is structured with a clear introduction, body, and summary of the process rather than a set of instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is presented as a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow. There is a lack of paragraphing to separate the preparation phase from the operational phase. While some sequencing words like 'First of all' and 'Now' are used, the flow is repetitive and mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and the transition between steps feels abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should organize your report into logical paragraphs—for example, one for the required materials and another for the step-by-step procedure—and use a wider variety of linking phrases to connect ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'make a small hole' and 'fill the bottle' are functional but lack the precision expected in an academic report. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'attack the bottle' (likely meaning 'attach') and 'timings things' (which is grammatically and lexically awkward). The range of vocabulary is limited to simple, everyday terms. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to the process, such as 'components,' 'assemble,' 'calibrate,' or 'measure.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with punctuation, such as the missing space after 'Now.' and the incorrect use of 'it's' (possessive 'its' is required). Sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited use of complex sentences. There are also errors in article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'on the bottom side of the bottle' and 'in second cutt off bottle.' To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement, and using a wider range of complex structures, such as relative clauses or conditional sentences.

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