Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-09

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

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN WATER CLOCK

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The figure represents the step by step process of building a water clock.

Overall, the picture shows materials required for making a clock and shows each steps individually process consist of 7 different stages from tap on to final process which is empty and repeat process for timing things.

Initially first graph represents the material required for making this process sucess as a straw,glue,plastic bottle, tape and a stand where all this are attached and in the end there is also one more thing required which is a neck cutted plastic bottle.In step 1 tap is on and water is stored in a plastic bottle then which is passed by a straw if water is overloaded in the bottotm of the bottle there is small hole made which is covered with a finger until water is overflowed which is step 3.In 4th stage constancy is maintained of water level and in 5th finger is moved away to let water passes through hole.

Aditionally the water which is passed by that hole collected in plastic bottle which neck is cut off and in that bottle water levels are measured as levels per minute which is step 6 and in step 7 water stored cointainer is made empty and repeat process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main purpose and give a broadly accurate account of the seven-stage sequence, including turning on the tap, controlling the flow with a finger, measuring levels per minute, and repeating the process. The overview identifies the stages from starting the tap to the final timing procedure. However, some important construction details are unclear or misrepresented: the straw is an overflow drain, not the route by which water is passed, and the small hole is at the base of the upper bottle. The description also does not clearly explain how the bottles are attached to the stand or how the lower bottle is marked. Develop these physical features more precisely and distinguish the setup from the operating stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the materials and sequence. The stages are generally presented in order, and phrases such as “Initially,” “In 5th stage,” and “Additionally” help signal progression. However, the long middle paragraph combines materials, construction, and several operating steps, making relationships difficult to follow. Some references are also unclear, particularly “which is passed by a straw” and “that hole,” because the reader must infer what each refers to. Use separate paragraphs for the apparatus and its operation, and connect each numbered stage with clear, consistent transitions and explicit references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “straw,” “stand,” “water level,” and “levels per minute,” so the reader can identify the main components and actions. However, the range and control are limited, and several word choices or forms make the description imprecise: “neck cutted plastic bottle,” “water is overloaded,” and “water stored cointainer” do not express the diagram’s details naturally. Spelling errors such as “sucess,” “bottotm,” and “Aditionally” are also noticeable. Build a more precise process vocabulary, for example “overflow,” “attached,” “collects,” and “calibration marks,” and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the reader can usually follow the broad sequence. Some grammatical errors remain, especially in agreement, articles, and clause construction. For example, “each steps individually process consist” has problems with plural agreement and sentence structure, while “all this are attached” does not agree in number. The sentence beginning “In step 1 tap is on” also needs an article, and the long sentence about the hole and overflow joins several actions in a confusing way. Use shorter, controlled sentences for individual stages, and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation. This would make your meaning clearer while retaining some complex structures.

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