Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-22

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)

this picture show in the process fr old methode time manegment a water clock system.

overall,this image show in seven part devided, first tap on,cover hole with finger,fill top bottle to overflow,level constant,finger away from hole,leveels per minute, empty and repeat process for timing things.

i see this digram one tap water felt in the bottle,and bottle hold on the one stand, while one neck cut bottle in bottem side , over there bottle water felt on the bottem bottle,

and over there plastic bottlen, one straw and one glue and this picture and tow between gape approxmat

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word length requirement of 150 words, containing only 98 words. Consequently, the description of the process is severely underdeveloped and misses significant details shown in the diagram, such as the calibration lines, the role of the straw as an overflow drain, and the systematic seven-step mechanism. While the writer attempts to provide an overview and mentions some features like the tap, the stand, and the plastic bottles, the lack of length and depth severely limits task completion. To improve, the writer must ensure they write at least 150 words and describe all key stages of the visual process sequentially and accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The text is divided into rudimentary paragraphs, including a brief introduction and an overall statement. However, the logical progression is weak and disjointed. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, resulting in fragmented sentences that are difficult to follow. For example, phrases like 'and over there plastic bottlen' disrupt the flow of information. Paragraphing is attempted but lacks sufficient structure to guide the reader through the multi-step process effectively. Improving overall coherence requires using clear sequencing words (e.g., 'firstly', 'subsequently', 'finally') and ensuring each sentence logically builds upon the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is extremely basic, repetitive, and restricted, featuring frequent spelling and word-choice errors such as 'methode', 'manegment', 'digram', and 'bottlen'. There is an attempt to use topic-related terms like 'water clock', 'tap', and 'bottle', but precise vocabulary needed for describing a technical process is absent. Words are often used incorrectly, such as 'felt' instead of 'flowed' or 'falls'. To achieve a higher band score, the writer needs to expand their lexical repertoire to include appropriate scientific and process-oriented vocabulary, ensuring correct spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 3.5

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting almost entirely of simple, faulty sentence structures. There are persistent, severe errors in basic grammar, punctuation, and capitalization, such as 'this picture show in the process fr old methode' and 'i see this digram one tap water felt in the bottle'. Complex sentence forms are absent, and control over basic structures like subject-verb agreement and prepositions is lacking. These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader and obscure the intended meaning of the text. Greater attention to basic sentence construction and grammar rules is essential.

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