Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-01

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)

In this stage put a bottle and manage the level and fix the level of water to identify the timing.(1) oopen the water and fill the bottle and make one hole in the bottom to bottle and and count the drops.

(2) cut the another bottle head and mention te level measure the water level.

(3) put the straw on the first bottle and fix on the near top and put the glue when a bottle fill by water so the drops start and measure as well.

(40 for the whole processs we need stand to fix these all the things and than calcualte the things identifty the timing

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response only minimally addresses the task requirements. It fails to meet the mandatory minimum word count of 150 words, stopping well short at 109 words. While the student attempts to describe parts of the water clock process, the description is disjointed, fragmented, and fails to provide a clear, coherent overview of the whole diagram. Important features such as the seven distinct numbered stages are confused or omitted, and the explanation lacks the development expected for an Academic Task 1 report. The response reads more like a set of scattered notes than a structured academic report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The information and ideas are not arranged coherently. The text is divided into numbered points that do not follow a logical or clear chronological progression of the water clock process. There is a lack of effective cohesive devices; transitions between sentences are abrupt, and referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow how the steps connect. Paragraphing is absent in any conventional sense, with the text structured into a list of fragmented notes rather than a cohesive piece of academic writing.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Vocabulary is basic and repetitive, utilizing a very limited range of words related to the diagram (e.g., "bottle", "water", "level", "fix"). There are noticeable word choice errors and awkward collocations, such as "manage the level" and "oopen the water", which strain the reader's understanding. Spelling mistakes are also present, including "oopen" and "calcualte". The vocabulary lacks the precision, variety, and sophistication required for an academic description of a mechanical process.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting mostly of poorly constructed, run-on simple sentences or faulty complex attempts. Errors are frequent and severely disrupt the flow of reading, often distorting meaning. There are persistent issues with verb forms, missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and faulty clause structures, such as in "when a bottle fill by water so the drops start". Punctuation is also poorly handled, contributing to the lack of sentence boundary clarity throughout the response.

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