Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-10

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 picture illustrates process of building a own water clock in a particular stages which define in seven steps.

Overall, the device works by allowing water to flow from an upper bottle into a lower, graduated container. The water level in the lower bottle can then be used to measure the passage of time. The process needs to be repeated to establish accurate timing.

First and the foremost, stage of building water clock is on the water tap into plastic bottle which conti

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the task achievement score. Because the text is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to describe the full process shown in the diagram. While the introduction and overview attempt to address the task, the lack of development and the failure to complete the description of the seven stages mean that the requirements of the prompt have not been met. To improve, you must ensure you complete the entire description and meet the minimum word count by providing sufficient detail for each step of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows a basic attempt at logical organization with an introduction and an overview. However, because the text is incomplete, the progression of ideas is interrupted. Cohesive devices such as 'First and the foremost' are used, but the overall structure is undermined by the abrupt ending. To improve, ensure that your response is complete and that you use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link the stages of the process more fluidly, ensuring that the transition between steps is clear and logical for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'graduated container' and 'passage of time' being appropriate for a process description. However, there are some errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'building a own water clock' and 'on the water tap into plastic bottle'. The range is limited due to the brevity of the response. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to the diagram and ensure your word choices are grammatically accurate within the context of the sentence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, such as 'illustrates process of building a own water clock' (missing articles) and 'in a particular stages which define' (subject-verb agreement and preposition errors). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the incomplete nature of the text prevents the demonstration of a wider range of complex structures. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including the correct use of articles, prepositions, and verb tenses, and aim to incorporate more complex sentence structures once your foundational grammar is more consistent.

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

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