Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-19
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 4.0)
The diagram show the process of making personal water clock.
Overall, the procedure are in seven steps with essential equipment such as the a tap, a jar, a stand, a port, a straw and water.
In the first step of the process to fill the bottle from water and tape it with a stand and to do a small hole in the bottom and with adding a straw in the just under top. The water start flowing with the below hole as well as with the straw.
Additionally, Add a jar with cut of their head for easily storing dropping the water from the above bottle.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at only 106 words. Consequently, the description of the seven-step water clock diagram is severely under-developed. While the writer attempts to outline the general procedure, the explanation of the stages is fragmented and omits crucial details shown in the diagram, such as the calibration lines and the exact functioning of the overflow straw. The overview sentence is also overly simplistic. Due to the significant under-length and incomplete coverage of the visual data, this falls under Band 4.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The text is divided into four very short paragraphs, which hinders the logical flow and progression of the report. Although there is an introductory overview followed by body sections, the sequencing of steps is confused and difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes misused, such as 'Additionally, Add a jar with cut of their head for easily storing dropping the water'. Referencing is also unclear at times, making the overall arrangement mechanical and somewhat incoherent, which aligns with Band 4.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive. Words and phrases like 'personal water clock', 'a tap, a jar, a stand, a port, a straw', and 'cut of their head' demonstrate a very limited range. There are noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate collocations that cause some difficulty for the reader, such as 'tape it with a stand', 'do a small hole', and 'storing dropping the water'. This level of lexical control corresponds to a Band 4.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at more complex constructions are faulty and frequently ungrammatical, for example, 'the procedure are in seven steps' and 'to fill the bottle from water and tape it with a stand and to do a small hole'. Errors in tense, preposition choice, and sentence structure are frequent and occasionally distort the meaning for the reader, placing this response firmly in Band 4.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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