Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-15

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 process diagram illustrates that how to build your own water clock regarding seven possible stages.

Overall, the process contain several stages to build a water clock. From tap on water to fill the bottle until it overflow then finger away from the hole to drop water platelets into plastic bottle that keeps the level constant per minute and when empty, the process repeat.

In the first stage, the water comes to the upper plastic bottle through the tap on, at the bottom finger will keep the hole cover until it filled with water, while the level remains constant which the upper flow of water out throuh the straw that is attached with platsic bottle with the help of glue.

In the next stage, when the upper plastic bottle filled with the water, whereas the the kept finger on the bottom of the bottle move away to keep the water drops entered in the lower plastic bottle. The level per minute checked and when the bottle became empty the process woukld repeat for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and include its main purpose: using water levels to time things, then emptying and repeating the process. You also mention the tap, the upper bottle, the straw and the lower bottle. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described. The finger covers the hole while the upper bottle is filled to overflow; the water then drains through the hole into the lower bottle, where levels are marked per minute. Your account instead says the level remains constant and refers to “water platelets,” which does not explain the calibration clearly. The overview also does not clearly summarise how the apparatus works. Describe the setup and the sequence more precisely, especially the overflow and the marked levels.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing the stages. Sequencing phrases such as “In the first stage” and “In the next stage” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression is not consistently clear because several steps are combined in long sentences, and the order of filling, overflow and releasing the finger becomes difficult to track. The overview also repeats details that are developed later rather than giving a concise summary of the process. Use one paragraph for the apparatus and initial filling, then another for drainage, marking the levels and repeating the timing process. Clearer sentence boundaries and more precise references would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “upper plastic bottle,” “hole,” “straw,” “glue” and “lower plastic bottle,” so the reader can identify the main components. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to make parts of the description difficult to understand. “Water platelets” is not an appropriate term for drops of water, and “the level per minute checked” does not clearly describe marking the lower bottle. There are also spelling errors such as “throuh,” “platsic” and “woukld.” Aim for precise, conventional process language—for example, “water droplets,” “overflow,” “drain through” and “mark the water level”—and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “while,” “when” and “until.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors in sentence structure, verb forms and agreement sometimes make the sequence hard to follow. For example, “The process contain several stages” needs subject–verb agreement, while “when the upper plastic bottle filled with the water” is missing an auxiliary verb. The opening phrase “illustrates that how to build” also combines structures incorrectly. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences first, then connect them accurately: “The bottle is filled until the water overflows. The hole is then uncovered, allowing water to drain into the lower bottle.” Check articles and verb forms as you revise.

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