Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-12

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 given process diagram illustrates the information about stages for the construction of water clock. While in the process 7 stages are included.

Overall, the stand has plastic bottles, and the bottles are hold with the help of tape. So, the water is drop from tap while the water passes from different steps. Similarly, after some time the water is enter into another plastic bottle.

Firstly, the tap on and the water is entered in plastic bottle, but the bottle is fixed with tape. However, on the upper of bottle one straw is connected so cover the hole of bottle with the help of finger. But in 4th stage keep the constant level of water.

Secondly, in the last of bottle has one small hole and just for minute finger away from the hole while the water is entered in second plastic bottle (neck cut off). While on the other hand there checked the level of water and in 7th stage empty or repeat this process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the process of making a water clock, identifying some basic elements such as the plastic bottles, tap, straw, and holes. However, the response fails to fully and accurately convey the sequential steps and mechanical details shown in the diagram. Many descriptions are vague, incomplete, or confusing, such as mentioning that the bottle is 'fixed with tape' or instructing to 'keep the constant level of water' without explaining how or why. The overview is also very limited, merely stating that there are 7 stages. This performance aligns with Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 as it addresses the task partially and contains underdeveloped ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is divided into an introduction and three body paragraphs, which provides a basic structural framework. However, overall progression is weak and ideas are disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is frequently unnatural or inaccurate, such as starting multiple sentences with 'While', 'Similarly', or 'Firstly', leading to confusion. Referencing is also faulty, with pronouns and phrases like 'in the last of bottle' failing to clearly link back to previous elements. There is no clear logical organisation throughout, justifying a Band 4.5, which is represented by a band score of 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and heavily relies on words from the prompt, such as 'plastic bottle', 'water', and 'process'. There are numerous word choice and collocation errors, such as 'bottles are hold with the help of tape', 'water is drop from tap', and 'finger away from the hole'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with little success or is completely absent. These frequent inaccuracies and limited lexical range restrict the score to a Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex or compound structures are consistently faulty, resulting in ungrammatical clauses like 'While in the process 7 stages are included' and 'the water is enter into another plastic bottle'. There are frequent errors in verb forms, voice, prepositions, and sentence construction throughout the text. These persistent errors cause difficulty for the reader and obscure meaning, placing this response firmly in the Band 4.5 to 5.0 range.

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

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