Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-05

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)

First of all I need a plastic bottle , tape , stand , straw ,glue , stand and a tap . So first you fix a bottle with a stand and then put one more plastic bottle below the other plstic bottle and to make a level constant put a straw on the bottle and tap on and also put the finger below when water reaches the level remove the finger and check the level per minute water .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response falls significantly short of the minimum word requirement of 150 words, reaching only 79 words in total. Because of this severe underlength, the task is addressed only minimally. While the student attempts to list and describe some of the items and stages involved in making a water clock, such as fixing a bottle with a stand and using a straw and finger, the account is extremely brief and omits a complete overview of the entire 7-stage process. Key elements shown in the visual data, such as marking the calibration lines on the lower container and repeating the process for timing, are entirely missing. To improve, the student must write a fully developed report of at least 150 words that outlines all stages of the diagram systematically.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The writing lacks effective paragraphing and is presented as a single, dense block of text, which severely impacts the overall organization. There is a lack of clear logical progression, as the steps of the process are bundled together in a run-on sentence structure using repetitive conjunctions like 'and' and 'then'. Cohesive devices are used very mechanically ('First of all', 'So first', 'and then'), and referencing is often unclear, such as shifting abruptly between different bottles without clear distinction. To achieve a higher level of coherence and cohesion, the student should group the information into logical paragraphs representing the different phases of construction and operation, and employ a wider range of appropriate transition signals to guide the reader smoothly through the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple everyday words such as 'plastic bottle', 'tap', 'stand', 'straw', and 'finger'. There are noticeable issues with word repetition, such as mentioning 'stand' and 'plastic bottle' multiple times in close proximity, and some imprecise phrasing ('check the level per minute water'). While the words chosen are generally basic enough to be understood, the range is far too limited to discuss a technical diagram effectively. To improve lexical resource, the student needs to incorporate a wider and more precise range of topic-specific vocabulary related to processes and equipment, such as 'apparatus', 'container', 'calibrated', 'observe', and 'drain'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The grammatical structure of the response is overly simplistic and heavily reliant on a single, long run-on sentence joined by coordinating conjunctions ('First of all I need... So first you fix... and then put... and to make... and tap on and also put...'). There is a lack of control over complex sentence forms, and punctuation is largely neglected, missing periods or commas where natural pauses should occur. Grammatical errors, particularly missing articles ('with a stand', 'put straw') and faulty prepositional phrasing, occur frequently and disrupt the flow of reading. To improve, the student should practice writing distinct, well-punctuated sentences, incorporating a mix of simple and complex structures with accurate grammatical agreements and articles.

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.