Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given diagram shows the process of making a water clock.

Overall, it require approximately seven major steps to make our own water clock. Also, a plastic bottle with cut off neck, plastic bottle with a hole, tap, and a stand is necessary in this procedure.

In order to make a water clock, a bottle should be fixed with stand by a tape and put a half bottle just beneath the bottle.Whole apparatus put under the runny tap. After that, tap on, so water accumulate in the bottle and put the finger in the hole of bottle. Put the straw at certain level which helps to eredicate the extra water and the level of water remian at constant level.

As the constant level achieved, put the finger away from the hole so water start falling in the half bottle. Meanwhile, it is the time to record the level of water accumulate in a minute in neck cut off bottle. Lastly, empty the bottle and repeat this process for measuring different timimgs and evaluating variable flow rates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task by describing the overall process of making a water clock and mentioning the key equipment and sequential stages shown in the diagram. An overview is provided in the opening paragraph, stating that there are approximately seven major steps and listing the necessary items. However, some aspects of the description are slightly unclear or contain minor inaccuracies regarding how the steps unfold, such as 'Whole apparatus put under the runny tap' and some awkward phrasing in detailing the overflow mechanism. Despite these minor lapses, the main features of the visual data are correctly identified and presented, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1. Therefore, a band score of 6.0 is appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is arranged coherently with a clear progression from introduction to the sequential steps of building the water clock. Paragraphing is attempted, though the body paragraphs could be better divided into logical steps. Cohesive devices such as 'In order to', 'After that', and 'Meanwhile' are used to connect ideas, though some transitions feel mechanical or repetitive ('put the finger', 'put the straw'). Referencing is generally clear, though pronoun use and article placement occasionally disrupt the flow. Overall arrangement is coherent and the reader can follow the process easily, supporting a band score of 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific words such as 'apparatus', 'overflow', 'calibration lines' (implied), and 'flow rates'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'it require' instead of 'it requires', 'runny tap' instead of 'running tap', and 'eredicate' instead of 'eradicate' or 'remove'. Spelling errors ('remian', 'timimgs') and imprecise lexical choices prevent the response from achieving a higher band. The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the intended meaning, earning a band score of 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or purpose clauses ('In order to make a water clock, a bottle should be fixed...'). However, grammatical control is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in verb forms and agreement, including 'it require approximately' and 'water remian at constant level'. Articles and prepositions are also frequently missing or misused, as seen in 'fixed with stand by a tape' and 'put the finger in the hole of bottle'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur regularly across the text, placing this response firmly at a band 5.0.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.