Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-06

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 5.0)

The illustration explains how one can build a water clock following seven given steps.

Overall, the process is carried out repeatedly in several stages, starting with collecting water and ending when the bottle is empty after completing all the steps.

First of all, two plastic bottles need to be attached to a vertical frame using tape to collect water from a tap in the upper bottle. Secondly, a hole made underneath the upper bottle has to be covered with a finger and has to let the bottle overflow with water till the water level becomes constant at the straw glued in its neck.

After that finger should be taken away from the hole and water will pour to the lower bottle. empty and repw

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, stopping abruptly at 124 words with unfinished text like 'empty and repw'. Furthermore, while the writer attempts to describe the process, the coverage is incomplete and trails off before explaining the final stages of the diagram. The overview is very basic, and key features such as the lower bottle calibration and the specific roles of the straw and overflow are under-developed or missed entirely. To achieve a higher band, the student must write a fully developed response that meets the length requirement and covers all steps of the process clearly from beginning to end.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation with an introduction and sequence markers such as 'First of all' and 'Secondly'. However, there is no clear overall progression because the text cuts off mid-sentence at the end. Paragraphing is limited, and cohesive devices are somewhat mechanical. Referencing becomes unclear in places, such as 'After that finger should be taken away', where missing articles disrupt the flow. To improve cohesion and logical flow, the writer needs to ensure every stage is properly connected, avoid abrupt endings, and use a wider and more accurate range of cohesive ties to guide the reader smoothly through the entire process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for describing a simple process, featuring standard terms like 'plastic bottles', 'vertical frame', and 'water level'. However, the range is limited and repetition occurs. There are also noticeable lexical and spelling errors, such as the incomplete final word 'repw' and awkward phrasing like 'let the bottle overflow with water till the water level becomes constant at the straw'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate a broader range of precise, less common vocabulary related to scientific processes and ensure correct spelling and word formation throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text displays a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple and moderately complex forms with frequent errors. There are issues with article usage, such as missing articles ('After that finger should be taken away'), and clumsy passive constructions ('a hole made underneath the upper bottle has to be covered'). Frequent errors and the abrupt, unfinished ending cause difficulty for the reader and distort meaning. To improve, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over complex grammatical structures, ensure accurate use of prepositions and articles, and check for basic sentence completion and punctuation.

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.