Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-17

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)

To build a water clock you will need plastic bottles, straw, glue, tape and a stand. Starting by assembling the plstic bottles and fixing them with stand using tape. The bottle at the top will have a whole at botton, while the plastic bottle with it's neck cut off. Put the straw in the first bottle from sideways. Once the assembley is done, we will turn on the tap, cover the whole on the botton of Bottle 1, let it fill. Once the top bottle fills up and it levels with the straw that we put from sideways, remove hand from the hole at botton of bottle. Now you can match the timing of water coming dowwn from the Botton of the Bottle and one coming down from the straw. here you can measure the level per minute. Once done for better accuracy, empty the bottle below and repeat the whole procedure to get perfect results.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of making and operating a water clock based on the visual diagram, listing materials and stages such as filling the top bottle, covering the hole, and measuring levels. However, the report falls short of a fully developed Academic Task 1 response. It lacks a clear overview and does not structure the stages logically into an academic format, reading more like informal instructions than an objective report. Furthermore, there are several misinterpretations of the visual data, such as confusing the calibration process (marking levels per minute on the lower bottle) with matching water flow. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, earning a band score of 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is presented as a single solid block of writing without paragraphing, which significantly impacts its overall structure and readability. While there are some basic sequencing words like 'Starting by' and 'Once the assembley is done', the logical progression is hindered by confusing transitions and a lack of clear mechanical referencing. Cohesive devices are used repetitively and sometimes inaccurately (e.g., 'the straw that we put from sideways'). Paragraphing is entirely absent, meaning information is not grouped into logical stages such as preparation and operation. This level of organisation aligns with the descriptors for Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic, repetitive, and heavily relies on words lifted directly from the prompt (e.g., 'plastic bottles', 'straw', 'glue', 'tape', 'stand'). There are several spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'plstic', 'whole' instead of 'hole', 'botton', and 'assembley'. While the writer attempts some less common terms, inaccuracies in collocation and form impede precision. The lexical range is minimally adequate for communicating basic ideas about the diagram, but frequent errors place it firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on imperative or loose clause chains (e.g., 'Put the straw in the first bottle from sideways'). There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('fixing them with stand'), incorrect prepositions, and faulty verb forms ('it levels', 'timing of water coming dowwn'). Complex sentences are rarely attempted, and when structures become more complicated, they tend to break down grammatically. Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader in tracing actions, a band score of 5.0 is appropriate.

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

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