Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

the diagram demonstrate encompasses the most important stages for makig a waater clock.

overall, the diagram consists seven susquenting stages. the first stage is the tap on the water into plastic bottle, then cover the holes of bottle with finger, after this stage we move to another essantial step wich is filling top bottle to overflow.

furthermore, the fourth stage the level constant, measure the water lavel. aditionally the fifth stage is put finge away

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the diagram as a water-clock process and mentions several early stages, including turning on the tap, covering a hole, filling the upper bottle, and moving a finger away. However, it describes the process only minimally and stops before explaining how the clock is calibrated or used. The later stages—marking the water level each minute, emptying the bottle, and repeating the process to time activities—are omitted, as are key construction details such as the stand, straw, and lower bottle. The overview that there are seven stages is useful, but the report does not give a complete account of them. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words, which limits its coverage. Include an overview and describe the apparatus and all stages in sequence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the report in sequence: the writer introduces the diagram, gives an overview of seven stages, and then uses phrases such as “the first stage,” “after this stage,” and “the fourth stage.” This gives the reader some sense of progression. However, the account ends abruptly during stage five, so there is no complete progression or concluding description of the process. Linking is limited and sometimes awkward: “furthermore” does not clearly show the next step, while “additionally” introduces another stage without clarifying its relationship to the previous one. The text is also presented as one short block. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the staged description, and connect each step with clear sequencing language such as “next,” “once,” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “stages,” “tap,” “plastic bottle,” “overflow,” and “level,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is narrow, and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to interpret, including “makig,” “waater,” “susquenting,” “essantial,” and “lavel.” Some phrases are also imprecise: “tap on the water” does not clearly describe turning on the tap, and “the level constant” does not explain that the water level is marked. Use accurate, specific terms for the apparatus and actions, such as “upper container,” “overflow outlet,” “water drips,” and “mark the water level.” Careful proofreading of spelling and choosing natural process collocations would make the description clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to use sequencing clauses, for example, “after this stage we move to another…” and “the fifth stage is…,” but most sentences follow a simple pattern and the range is limited. Frequent grammatical errors affect clarity. The opening lacks a correctly formed verb phrase (“the diagram demonstrate encompasses”), and several clauses are incomplete or missing necessary words, such as “the fourth stage the level constant” and “the fifth stage is put finge away.” There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, as in “the tap on the water into plastic bottle.” Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, for example, “At the fourth stage, the water level is marked.” Then check articles, verb forms, and punctuation throughout.

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.