Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-29

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 diagram below illustrates the process of how to build a water clock. To perform the experiment, two plastic bottles one with the neck and the other without it are needed. The upper bottle will be tied with tape along with a stand so it does not fall. The first step in the experiment is to open tap and as a result water starts getting poured into the upper bottle. The upper bottle which is to be used in this process must have a hole at its bottom. The hole should be covered with finger until the upper bottle is filled with water to maximum level and starts overflowing.Then, attach a straw with glue at upper portion of bottle. Straw should be in perpendicular to bottle. Remove finger away from hole and water will start flowing downside into lower bottle.Start noting down the levels of water per minute. At the end, empty the lower bottle and keep repeating the process in order to note the timing of things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main purpose and describe several key stages, including filling the upper bottle, releasing the water, recording levels and repeating the process. However, the account is only partly complete and includes some inaccurate or misplaced details. The straw is described as something to attach after filling, whereas the diagram shows it fixed near the top beforehand as an overflow drain. You also omit the calibration marks being made on the lower bottle and the constant water level maintained during filling. The opening gives materials but does not provide a clear overview of how the apparatus works. To strengthen the report, summarise the setup and the overall sequence, then describe the stages in their diagrammed order.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly understandable sequence, moving from the equipment to filling, releasing water and repeating the process. Linking phrases such as “The first step,” “Then,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the procedure. However, the report is presented as one continuous paragraph, and some transitions make the order unclear: the straw is introduced after the bottle has overflowed, although it is part of the initial setup. Several instructions are also joined together without enough punctuation, particularly around “overflowing.Then, attach” and “lower bottle.Start noting.” Group the setup and operating stages into clear paragraphs, and use sequencing language consistently to reflect the diagram.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a process, including “upper bottle,” “lower bottle,” “overflowing,” “hole,” and “levels of water.” This is enough to communicate the general procedure, but the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or unnatural. For example, “water starts getting poured” is wordy, while “tied with tape” does not accurately describe how the bottle is secured to the stand. “Straw should be in perpendicular to bottle” is also an awkward way to describe its position. Aim for concise process language and more precise terms for the apparatus and its function, such as describing the straw as an overflow outlet and the bottles as attached or fixed to the stand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple instructions and some longer structures, such as “The hole should be covered with finger until the upper bottle is filled…” This shows an attempt to vary sentence forms, and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, errors recur in articles, verb patterns and sentence boundaries. Examples include “open tap” and “covered with finger,” which need articles, and “water starts getting poured,” which uses an awkward passive construction. The sentence beginning “The upper bottle which is to be used…” is also cumbersome, while missing spaces after full stops make boundaries unclear. Practise accurate imperative forms and article use, and separate each stage into complete, correctly punctuated sentences.

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