Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-18

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 4.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of making a water clock.Here we discuss about the process.

The thing that required for the manufacturing of sater clock are tap,straw,glue, tape, plastic bottles and a stand.

First of all we open the tap by which water is fallen into first plastic bottle at end of that bottle is whole.We cover this hole with finger and allow the bottle to fill up until it is overflow then make level of water constant.Now remove the finger from hole and allow water to fall down in other plastic bottle which us graduated.Now check level of water in one minute that how many minutes fall down in plastic botle for one minute.

After doing this remove the bottle and repeat the process again and again for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the process of making a water clock, identifying key equipment such as the tap, straw, glue, tape, and bottles. However, the text suffers from a major penalty due to length, as it falls short of the 150-word minimum (containing only 131 words). Furthermore, the overview and description lack academic tone and clarity. The stages are described in a somewhat disjointed manner, mixing conversational elements like 'Here we discuss about the process' with instructions rather than a formal report. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, and the description lacks the precision expected of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The text lacks proper paragraphing, with most of the response clumped into a single poorly structured block after the introduction. While transitional markers such as 'First of all', 'Now', and 'After doing this' are used to sequence the steps, the overall logical progression is frequently disrupted by broken sentences and awkward phrasing, such as 'at end of that bottle is whole'. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, making the flow difficult to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive (e.g., 'plastic bottle', 'tap', 'straw', 'hole', 'water'). There are several noticeable lexical errors, such as spelling 'water' as 'sater' and using 'whole' instead of 'hole'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are absent, and word choices are generally restricted to simple, everyday terms. Lexical errors and limited range restrict the score to the lower bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and direct, imperative-like clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors and awkward syntax, such as 'The thing that required for the manufacturing of sater clock are...', 'water is fallen', and 'how many minutes fall down in plastic botle for one minute.' Punctuation is also problematic, including missing spaces after periods and run-on sentences. These errors frequently cause strain and confusion for the reader.

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

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