Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-12

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 below illustartes the whole procedure for making a water clock by your own. Overall, the process is followed by 7 stages and few special equipments used in making a water clock.

The steps are very simple and easy to follow. Firstly, a stand is placed in the image to hold all equipments, then a plastic bottle is attachted on the stand with a tape and a straw is connected to plastic bottle with a glue. At the bottom of the bottle, another hole clearly shown where water drops are dropping in another neck cut off plastic bottle with the lable measurements.

In first stage, turn on the water tap to fill the bottle, then cover the bottle wih your finger and let it to overflow through the straw. In the fourth stage, straw maintains a constant level of water in the bottle, then raise your finger from the bottom hole and let the water dripping in the neck cut off bottle. In sixeth stage, measure the levels per minute by thy measurements on the bottle. Ultimately, empty the both bottles and repeat the same process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The report covers the main construction features and the sequence, including the stand, attached upper bottle, straw, lower bottle, and the final use for timing. The overview that there are seven stages is relevant, and the response attempts to explain how the apparatus works. However, some stages are misreported or unclear: the finger covers the hole before the upper bottle is filled to overflow, rather than the order given in your account, and the straw maintains a constant water level by draining excess water. The final step is to empty and repeat the process; the diagram does not say to empty both bottles. Develop the sequence more precisely and distinguish the setup from the operating stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is an overall progression from describing the equipment to explaining the numbered stages, and sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “then,” and “Ultimately” help the reader follow the account. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: the first paragraph combines construction details with the overview, while the second moves between stages and explanations without always marking the transitions. For example, “In the fourth stage” is followed by the straw’s function and then the release of the finger, making the order difficult to track. Use a clearer overview paragraph followed by a step-by-step description, and connect each numbered stage explicitly. This would make the progression less mechanical and reduce ambiguity.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “attached,” “overflow,” “constant level,” and “measure,” so the reader can generally identify the equipment and actions. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “special equipments,” “water drops are dropping,” and “measurements on the bottle.” Spelling errors, including “illustartes,” “attachted,” and “lable,” are also noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the description. Choose more precise terms for the apparatus and its function, and check spelling carefully. For example, describe the lower bottle as having calibration marks rather than simply “measurements.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “then” and “where,” and the main meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence structure, articles, and verb forms occur often enough to make some descriptions awkward. For instance, “another hole clearly shown” lacks a finite verb, while “let it to overflow” uses an incorrect verb pattern. “The process is followed by 7 stages” is also an unnatural passive construction, and “empty the both bottles” has an article error. Practise forming complete clauses and accurate instructions, such as “cover the hole with a finger, then fill the upper bottle until it overflows.” Greater control of these patterns would improve clarity.

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