Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-26

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 figure below describes the process for making a water clock which goes through seven stages.

Overall, in order to build your own water clock, there is a seven stage process through we have to go and, it starts from tap on to empty and repeat process for timing things. Further, it is described below.

Firstly, there is a stand which holds the plastic bottles, starting from tap on and than to cover the hole of bottle with finger. The bottle is upheld with tape and inside the bottle; water is overflowing which goes down into another bottle, the level of water is constant.

Secondly, remove your finger from hole, water will drop below into plastic bottle whose neck is cut off. There is a scale available on water bottle through which we will record levels per minute. Lastly, the seventh stage of the process is empty and repeat process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and include several relevant details, such as covering the hole, water flowing into the lower bottle, and marking levels per minute. However, the account only partially explains how the apparatus is assembled and how the stages connect. For example, the straw fixed near the top to drain overflow is omitted, and “the bottle is upheld with tape” does not clearly explain that the upper bottle is attached to a stand. The description of filling the upper bottle until it overflows is also unclear. Your overview gives the sequence’s start and end, but could summarise the key operating principle: water drips into the lower bottle and its rising level is used for timing. Develop these central features more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the process. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly” help the reader follow the general order. However, progression is not consistently clear because several stages are combined or presented imprecisely. The first body paragraph moves from the stand and bottles to filling and the constant level without clearly separating the actions; “the level of water is constant” is especially difficult to connect to the preceding sentence. “Further, it is described below” adds little, while “starting from tap on and than to cover” repeats the overview rather than smoothly introducing the steps. Organise the stages in order, using one clear action per sentence and references such as “the upper bottle” and “the lower container” consistently.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the main objects and actions, including “stand,” “plastic bottles,” “overflowing,” and “levels per minute.” However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural, which makes parts of the process harder to understand. “The bottle is upheld with tape” does not accurately express how it is attached, and “water will drop below into plastic bottle” is an awkward description of the flow. The repeated use of “bottle” also makes the account less precise when distinguishing the two containers. Use process-specific terms such as “secure,” “drip,” “upper container,” and “lower bottle,” and describe the straw as an overflow outlet. Check collocations and spelling, including “then” rather than “than.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the opening sentence clearly introduces the process. However, complex constructions are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between actions unclear. For example, “there is a seven stage process through we have to go and, it starts” has an incomplete relative construction and faulty punctuation. In “starting from tap on and than to cover the hole,” the verb pattern is incomplete, while “the level of water is constant” does not clearly show what is being measured or when. There are also article and number issues, such as “cover the hole of bottle” and “a seven stage process.” Practise writing each stage as a complete passive or imperative sentence, and check articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries.

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.