Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-07

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 4.5)

Wen can make water clock

First of all we need to tap on, then we have to cover all of the hole using our fingers.

Then we have to fill the bottle till it’s start to

Overflow. By doing this we also have to check the level of constant is it ? Or not. Later then we

Put our fingers away and then we have to check it’s level by the mount of per minute. And in the end we have to repeat the process for timming things! That’s all

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify several stages in the correct general order, including turning on the tap, covering the hole, filling the bottle until it overflows, and repeating the process. However, the report responds only minimally to the diagram: it does not describe how the clock is assembled or explain the upper and lower bottles, stand, straw, or the water dripping into the lower container. The explanation of the constant level and the markings made per minute is also unclear. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving too little space to describe the process adequately. To improve, give an overview of the apparatus and then explain the construction and operating stages with accurate detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence, signalled by “First of all,” “Then,” “Later,” and “in the end,” so the reader can follow the broad order of actions. However, it is presented as one short block and lacks a clear report structure, such as an introduction, an overview, and a fuller description of the stages. Some links are awkward or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “we have to,” while “By doing this” does not clearly identify which action it refers to. Organise the information into a logical progression from building the apparatus to using it, and use linking phrases that make each step’s relationship clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is basic but includes a few relevant terms, such as “overflow,” “level,” and “process,” which help convey the general procedure. However, the range is narrow and several choices are inaccurate or unclear for a process report. “Check the level of constant” does not express the intended idea clearly, and “check it’s level by the mount of per minute” is difficult to understand. There are also spelling errors in “timming” and “Wen.” Use precise terms from the diagram, such as “upper bottle,” “lower container,” “water level,” and “calibration marks,” and choose formal process verbs such as “attach,” “drip,” and “measure.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You use a few simple clauses and attempt to connect them into longer sentences with “then” and “by doing this.” However, the range of sentence structures is very limited, and errors frequently make the meaning unclear. For example, “we have to check the level of constant is it? Or not” has an incorrect question structure, while “we have to check it’s level by the mount of per minute” does not form a clear grammatical clause. The response also shifts between instructions and questions without a consistent pattern. Practise writing clear passive or present-simple process sentences, for example, “The bottle is filled until water overflows,” and check sentence boundaries and punctuation.

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