Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-28

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)

So, How do we build our own water clock? You might be thinking, it is going to be quite complicated. However, it is quite simple. All you need is two plastic bottles, straw, glue, tape,stand and pencil. After collecting all the apparatus, the first step you need to take is to find a water tap and keep in mind that it is going to be your workspace for a while. After that, I want you to cut the neck off from one of the plastic bottle and make two holes at the bottom and around the top of the other one. The plastic bottle with holes will be tape to the stand right under the water tap. Furthermore, glue a straw on the upper hole of the bottle. Right after, you will have to place some measurments on the other bottle, each unit will represents minute. For the finishing step, you will need to place the bottle with units on it under the other bottle. After this set up all you need to do is filled the plastic bottle at the top with water.Reminder, you will have to block the hole at the bottom until the bottle if filled up until it reaches the straw. After it reaches the straw you can let go of your finger and you will have a working water clock.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response identifies the main purpose and gives a broadly relevant sequence, including attaching the upper bottle, adding a straw, filling it, and releasing the water. However, it only partially reports the diagram: it changes the construction by saying to make two holes, whereas the diagram shows a hole at the base and an overflow straw near the top. It also says the lower bottle is marked with units before explaining the water-level calibration, and omits the stages in which the level remains constant, marks are made per minute, and the bottle is emptied and reused for timing. The conversational opening and direct instructions are less suited to a report. A more complete, neutral account of the actual stages would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a recognisable order, signalled by phrases such as “After collecting,” “After that,” “Furthermore,” and “For the finishing step,” so the reader can follow the general construction and operation. However, the response is one continuous paragraph and moves between materials, construction, calibration, and use without clearly grouping these phases. Some links are also awkward or repetitive: “After this set up” and “After it reaches the straw” do not make the sequence especially precise, while “Reminder” interrupts the report-like flow. Organise the account into a brief introduction/overview and clearly ordered construction and operating stages, using transitions that show the actual sequence rather than relying mainly on repeated time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses enough task-related vocabulary to communicate the basic process, including “plastic bottles,” “stand,” “straw,” “measurments,” and “working water clock.” However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or informal for an academic process report. “Workspace” and “I want you to” make the description sound conversational, while “place some measurments” does not clearly describe drawing calibration marks. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form problems, including “measurments” and “set up” used as a noun. Choose precise process terms such as “attach,” “mark,” “calibrate,” and “release,” and use neutral reporting language to describe the apparatus and its operation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer structures, for example “After that, I want you to cut the neck off…” and “After it reaches the straw you can let go…,” but control is inconsistent and errors occur frequently. Examples include “one of the plastic bottle” (plural agreement), “will be tape” (incorrect passive form), “each unit will represents” (incorrect verb form), and “all you need to do is filled” (incorrect infinitive pattern). The sentence “Reminder, you will have to block…” also has faulty punctuation and phrasing. These errors sometimes make the instructions harder to follow. Practise accurate passive constructions and verb patterns, and check agreement and sentence boundaries; for example, “The bottle is taped to the stand” and “each mark represents one minute.”

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