Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates how you can time different things by making your own water clock.

You need two bottles, one with a hole at the bottom and another with the neck cut off. You can tape the bottle with the hole on the top of the stand and put the other bottle below it. You can glue a straw at the top bottle marking it as the level constant. You can than fill the bottle to this level, while blocking the hole with a finger so the water wont start leaking. After you have filled the bottle , take your finger away from the hole so the water will fall drop by drop into the bottle below filling it in a timely manner. You can mark the bottom bottle with a scale of your choice so u can measure the time it takes to fill that bottle.

You can repeat this process with different things to time their processes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The report identifies the purpose of the diagram and describes several key features, including the two bottles, the stand, the straw, and the water flowing into the lower container. It also mentions covering and then uncovering the hole, and repeating the process. However, some important stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the straw is an overflow drain, not a marker for the constant water level, and the upper bottle is filled until water overflows through it. The calibration marks on the lower bottle are also central to measuring elapsed time, but the explanation that the bottle is marked with “a scale of your choice” is vague. A clearer overview of the apparatus and a more precise account of the numbered stages would make the description more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information is presented in a generally logical order: the response first lists the materials and setup, then explains filling and releasing the water, and finally describes repeating the process. This gives the reader a coherent overall account. The sequence is also supported by time and condition links such as “while” and “After you have filled the bottle.” However, the response is arranged as one long paragraph, and the steps are not clearly separated, which makes the process harder to scan. Some references, such as “this level,” are not fully clear because the straw’s function has been misidentified. Grouping the construction and operating stages separately, and using clearer references, would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for communicating the basic process, with relevant terms such as “stand,” “hole,” “straw,” “drop by drop,” and “scale.” The response also uses some process language, including “fill,” “blocking,” and “repeat.” However, several choices are imprecise or informal for an academic process report. “Marking it as the level constant” does not accurately describe the straw, while “different things” and “their processes” are vague. The abbreviation “u” is also too informal. More precise terms for the apparatus and its function would help convey the diagram’s details accurately and make the report sound more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, including a purpose clause (“so you can measure”) and a time clause (“After you have filled the bottle”). Most of the meaning remains understandable. Some errors and awkward constructions are present, however. “You can than fill” uses the wrong form of “then,” and “the water wont start leaking” needs an apostrophe in “won’t.” The sentence beginning “After you have filled the bottle” is long and would be clearer with more controlled punctuation. There is also inconsistent punctuation around “bottle ,” and the final sentence’s reference to “their processes” is grammatically possible but unclear. More careful proofreading and shorter step-by-step sentences would improve accuracy.

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