Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-21

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 illustrates the method of making water clock.The diagram contains eight stages from beginning of tap to the bottom of glass like plastic bottle.

First of all, process commence with tap from which small drops of water lead into plastic bottle.A small hole made at the bottom of plastic bottle with help of in stage two we cover this hole with our fingers .At stage three we filled a bottle till top where a straw connected with the help of glow who eleminates extra water.Then we checked constant level of water.After that we putt off finger from the bottom of plastic bottle where water entered into glass like plastic bottle.At stage six we observe levels of water per minute which lead into stage seven where we repeat process until timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the diagram as a water-clock process and cover several stages, including filling the upper bottle, allowing water to flow into the lower container, marking levels per minute, and repeating the process. However, the report is brief and the overview is unclear: “eight stages” is inaccurate, as the diagram lists seven, and “from beginning of tap to the bottom of glass like plastic bottle” does not summarise the process effectively. Some details are also misreported or unclear, such as saying the straw “eliminates” extra water without explaining its overflow function. The response is 18 words below the required minimum, which limits the detail provided. To improve, give a clear overview of the apparatus and its purpose, then describe the seven stages accurately and fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented mostly in chronological order, and linking phrases such as “First of all,” “At stage three,” and “After that” help the reader follow the sequence. This gives the response some organisation. However, it is written as one dense paragraph, and several transitions are awkward or unclear, particularly “Then we checked constant level” and the move from the water entering the lower bottle to observing levels. The opening sentence also does not clearly introduce the overall arrangement. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the sequence, and connect each stage with precise references to what happens next. This would make the progression clearer and reduce the impression of a list of stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “plastic bottle,” “hole,” “straw,” “water,” and “levels,” so the basic subject is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms make the description difficult to understand. For example, “glass like plastic bottle” is an imprecise description of the lower container, while “glow” appears to be an incorrect word for the material used to attach the straw. “Put off finger” is also not an appropriate expression for removing a finger. Spelling errors such as “eleminates” and “commence” used in this context further reduce clarity. Build a more accurate process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to combine stages into longer sentences, using forms such as “where” and “which,” but control is inconsistent and the response relies heavily on simple past-tense narration. Errors occur frequently in sentence boundaries, articles, verb forms, and agreement. For example, “The diagram illustrates the method of making water clock.The diagram” needs a space and clearer sentence structure; “process commence” lacks the correct verb form; and “we filled a bottle” shifts into past tense while the rest of the description is not consistently handled. The phrase “we cover this hole with our fingers” also changes person and tense. Use the present simple for a process description, check articles and subject–verb agreement, and punctuate each stage as a complete sentence.

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