Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

You can easily build your own water clock at home by using a simple techniques in absence of real clock. For the buildup of water clock you need a simple stand and a few water bottles. first of all fix the stand exactly below a tap and tie a plastic bottle with a hole in bottom by the help of tape below the running tap so the water can get on it. Fix a straw in a certain level using the glue. Afterwards take another bottle cut it into half and use the posterior part to collect the water from the top bottle. After the setup, fill the upper bottle to overflow and cover the bottom hole with finger. after then remove the finger and check the level of water per minute. This way you can easily find out the time. empty both bottles and repeat the process for different timings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the process of making a water clock, covering the main steps depicted in the diagram, such as setting up the stand, attaching the bottles, and using the overflow straw. However, the tone is inappropriate for an academic report directed at a university lecturer, shifting into an instructional register ('You can easily build...'). Furthermore, key details like the calibration lines and specific numerical stages are either omitted or generalized. While the response touches on the overall process, it lacks the formal, objective overview expected in an Academic Task 1 report. Consequently, it achieves a band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single block of text without paragraphing, which hinders logical progression and visual organisation. While some time markers like 'first of all', 'Afterwards', and 'after then' are used to sequence the steps, their mechanical application and lack of appropriate punctuation make the flow disjointed. Referencing between sentences is occasionally unclear, such as ambiguous pronoun usage regarding the bottles. Cohesive devices are overused repetitively rather than managed flexibly, leading to a score of 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, relying on everyday terms like 'simple stand', 'water bottles', and 'plastic bottle'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'buildup of water clock' instead of construction, and 'hole in bottom' instead of a hole at the base. Less common lexical items are largely absent, and spelling or article errors (e.g., 'in absence of real clock') restrict the range to a minimally adequate level, warranting a band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting predominantly of simple sentences and imperative commands (e.g., 'Fix a straw', 'take another bottle'). Attempts at complex structures are scarce, and punctuation is largely neglected, with missing capitalisation at the beginning of sentences and run-on clauses (e.g., 'below the running tap so the water can get on it'). Frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('in absence of real clock'), lead to a band score of 5.0.

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