Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-29

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 diagram illustrates the process to build your own water clock.

overall, it consist of 7 stages which include 2 plastic bottels, tap, glue, stand, straw.

fitst complete the whole setup before starting the process. Tape one plastic bottle with the stand under the tap and attached a straw with the bottle by the use of glue. place another neck cut off plastic bottle below the first bottle and mark measurments on it.

when the tap is turn on place an finger on a tiny hole in the bottle and fill the bottle. when the bottle is filled take your finger away from the bottle so the water comes down to the next bottle and water will flow through the straw. each level complete in one minute when the cut off bottle fill completely turn on the tap again to start filling the empty bottle again and thats how the process repeat again and again

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task well by describing the main features of the process for making and operating a water clock. The response provides a clear overview stating that it consists of 7 stages involving plastic bottles, a tap, glue, a stand, and a straw. The mechanical steps are outlined in sequence, matching the provided visual data, such as taping the bottle to the stand, adding the overflow straw, marking measurements on the lower container, and managing the water flow. Although some details are slightly condensed, the essential information and progression are accurately captured, meeting the requirements of Band 6.5 to 7.0 for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement and follows the chronological order of the stages depicted in the diagram. However, the paragraphing is extremely weak, with almost the entire body text compressed into a single block following the introduction. Cohesive devices are basic and repetitive (e.g., 'when', 'then', 'and'). Pronoun referencing is sometimes vague, such as 'take your finger away from the bottle so the water comes down to the next bottle'. Overall, the logical progression is present, but structural cohesion and paragraphing require significant improvement to reach a higher band level.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating specific apparatus items like 'plastic bottle', 'straw', 'tap', and 'glue'. However, there are several noticeable spelling errors ('bottels', 'fitst', 'measurments', 'turn on' instead of 'turned on') and word choice inaccuracies ('complete' instead of 'completed', 'level' instead of 'levels'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, preventing the response from achieving a Band 6.0. While communication is not severely impeded, the frequency of lexical errors places this firmly in the Band 5.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak throughout. There are numerous missing punctuation marks and capitalization errors at the beginning of sentences (e.g., 'overall', 'fitst'). Grammatical errors include tense inconsistencies and missing auxiliary verbs, such as 'when the tap is turn on place an finger' and 'when the cut off bottle fill completely turn on the tap'. The frequency of basic grammatical errors causes noticeable difficulty for the reader at times, limiting the score to a Band 5.0.

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