Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-25

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 given diagram illustrate the process how to make your own water clock.

Overall, this diagram show the seven step of making own water clock. In this diagram there are lots of things that are used plastic bottle,tape,straw,water,glue,stand and a jar.

Firstly, a water is leaking from the tap and fell into the water bottle then the 2 step is straw attached to the bottle and use the glue in water bottle a tape grabed the bottle because the bottle not fell down then in a little amout of water tap in the straw.

Secondly, a jar lying on the stand a little amount of water drpos fell in the jar there are measurments on the jar as well and the measurments can measure the level of water. Their is the process of how to built your own water clock this is very useful in science. And the students use their method on their practicals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the process of making a water clock, covering the main steps outlined in the diagram such as the preparation of the bottles, the stand, and the testing procedure. However, the explanation is frequently confusing and misses critical mechanical details from the diagram, such as the specific role of the overflow straw or the exact calibration process. While the writer identifies the overall topic and lists several equipment items, the development of the ideas is weak and heavily fragmented. The description of the stages is disjointed, failing to present a clear, sequential overview of how the water clock actually functions. Consequently, the performance meets the criteria for Band 4.0 as the information is presented minimally and lacks sufficient development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The essay is divided into short paragraphs, but the logical flow is severely disrupted by poor sentence structure and weak transitional phrases. While the writer attempts to use sequence markers like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly', these do not successfully structure the progression of the process. Cohesive devices are either misused or absent, resulting in a series of disconnected sentences rather than a cohesive report. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks internal logic; for instance, equipment lists and actions are jumbled together within single sentences. Referencing is often unclear, leaving the reader confused about which part of the apparatus is being referred to. This aligns well with the descriptors for Band 4.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying on general words like 'things', 'jar', and 'water'. There are numerous instances of inappropriate word choice and non-standard collocations, such as 'a tape grabed the bottle' and 'a little amout of water tap in the straw'. Spelling and word formation errors also appear, such as 'built' instead of 'build' and 'measurments'. The range of vocabulary is extremely limited and inadequate for an academic report, making it difficult for the reader to follow the technical description. This performance reflects the constraints typical of a Band 4.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple, and attempts at complex structures result in major errors and fragmented syntax, such as in the opening sentence 'The given diagram illustrate the process how to make your own water clock.' There are frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'diagram illustrate'), and missing prepositions or articles. Punctuation is also weak, leading to run-on sentences that lack proper clause boundaries. These persistent errors frequently strain the reader and obscure the intended meaning, matching the criteria for a Band 4.0 score.

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