Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-08
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)
The water clock diagram illustrates the process of building proper structure. there are certain type of stage including plastic bottle. therefore, to start with first stage need to put tap on and from the bottom of plastic bottle need to cover with finger.
Overall, plastic bottle structure is rectangular shape so we can add some straw inside for constant water flow. after that with the help of glue we can check level of water including bottle overflow as well.
Intially, plastic bottle tape is between the hole and pipe so we have to cover with the finger and try to put away from the hole.
The next stage need to plastic bottle which we already cut off the neck for constant water flow. once water generates from tap straight to another plastic bottle at this stage we have to check levels of water in every minute. the plastic bottle is full of water and attached by stand this time in final step we have to repeat the entrie process with time and messured the water levels. moreover, this the steps we can build our own water clock.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
You identify the subject as a water clock and mention several relevant components, including bottles, a straw, glue, a stand and the repeated timing process. However, the account only minimally explains the diagram’s sequence, and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the straw is described as being “inside” the structure, whereas it is fixed to the upper bottle as an overflow outlet; the lower bottle’s neck is cut off, not the upper bottle’s. You also omit key stages such as filling the upper bottle until water overflows, allowing the water level to become constant, and then releasing the hole. A clearer overview and a faithful, ordered description of the stages would make the report more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The response is divided into paragraphs and uses basic sequencing expressions such as “to start with,” “after that,” and “the next stage,” showing an attempt to guide the reader. However, the stages are not presented in a consistently logical order, and the paragraphs do not develop a clear progression from construction to operation. Some links are confusing: “Intially” introduces a detail about tape and a hole without explaining how it relates to the previous paragraph, while “moreover” does not clearly add a final stage. References such as “this time” and “this the steps” are also difficult to follow. Organise the report into a brief overview and a chronological account, using clear links between each action.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some task-related vocabulary, including “plastic bottle,” “tap,” “straw,” “glue,” “stand,” and “water levels,” so the reader can recognise the general topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or combinations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the process difficult to understand. For instance, “add some straw inside” does not describe the straw’s position or function, and “check level of water” is vague where the diagram shows marking levels on the lower bottle. There are also spelling errors such as “Intially,” “entrie,” and “messured.” Use precise process vocabulary and check spelling; for example, describe the straw as an overflow outlet and the lines as calibration marks.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, for example with “after that” and “once,” but sentence structures are often faulty and the range remains limited. Errors in articles, agreement and verb forms occur throughout: “there are certain type of stage” needs plural agreement, while “the next stage need to plastic bottle” lacks a clear grammatical structure. Several sentences also run together, as in the final sentence beginning “the plastic bottle is full of water,” making the relationships between actions unclear. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, including lowercase sentence openings and missing commas or full stops. Practise forming clear simple sentences first, then combine stages with accurate clauses and punctuation.
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