Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-20

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 pictorial representation shows the procedure of forming the water clock.

Overall, there are sevral steps involve to build a water clock. The first step begins with the tap on and undergoes many stages finally reached on the final step to empty the bottle and repeat the process fro timing things.

To Commence, take a stand and put a bottle with cut off neck, also tape one more bottle on the upper side of stand. The formation of water tank starts with the process of tap on in the plastic bottle. Cover the hole with your finger, in the center of bottom side of the bottle. Attach a straw with glue on the bottle. Now, fill the bottle until it overflows and make sure the level remains constant.

Moreover, put your finger away from the upper bottle and the water fell down in other bottle. Furthermore, measure the levels of the bottle per minute until the upper bottle will empty and then repeat the process again for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as making a water clock and include several relevant stages, such as covering the hole, filling the upper bottle until it overflows, and repeating the process for timing. However, the account is only partly complete and some details are unclear or inaccurate. The overview says there are several steps but does not clearly summarise how water flows from the upper bottle into the lower one and how the lower bottle’s levels are used to measure time. The opening instruction to turn on the tap is also not explained clearly, and the calibration step is reduced to “measure the levels … per minute.” Include the apparatus and the sequence more precisely, especially marking the lower bottle’s water levels as the water drips down.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening overview followed by paragraphs describing construction and operation. The stages are generally presented in sequence, and transitions such as “To Commence,” “Moreover,” and “Furthermore” signal movement between ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear: construction details and operating steps are mixed together, and the overview repeats the final instruction without giving a concise picture of the whole process. Some links are mechanical, while references such as “the bottle” and “other bottle” can leave the reader unsure which container is meant. Group the equipment setup first, then describe the numbered operating stages in order, using clear references to the upper and lower bottles.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “stand,” “plastic bottle,” “straw,” “overflows,” and “levels,” which helps convey the basic process. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “pictorial representation” and “formation.” However, several choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing a diagram: “procedure of forming” and “formation of water tank” do not clearly express making or operating a water clock. Spelling errors such as “sevral” and “fro” are noticeable, and “the water fell down” is not an appropriate description of the process. Aim for precise process vocabulary and natural collocations, for example “construct,” “attach,” “drip,” and “mark calibration lines.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including a sequence joined with “until” and clauses introduced by “and.” However, the range is limited, and complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “there are sevral steps involve” has an incorrect verb form, while “finally reached on the final step” lacks a clear grammatical subject and uses an unsuitable construction. Tense and agreement are also inconsistent in “the water fell down” and “until the upper bottle will empty.” Articles and sentence boundaries need attention as well. Practise describing processes with accurate present simple passive forms, such as “the bottle is attached” and “water is allowed to drip,” alongside clear active instructions.

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