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 illustrates the how to build your own water clock.

Overall, this is man-made. cyclic process completes in seven stages, beginning with water tap and ending with water bottle empty and repeat process again and again. While in this procedure 2 bottles attached with a stand.

Firstly, a plastic bottle is taped with stand, the hole at lower side cover with finger to stop the flow of water. Although, a straw is adjusted with glue at top of bottle in horizontal way. this is worked for path of excessive water out.

Once the level is constant the figure is removed from the hole, allowing water dropped through upper bottle lower bottle. The lower bottle neck cut off also, containing with level per minute which is marked outside. The drop of water flowed by upper bottle. The water level in the lower container is observed, and the amount of water rises per minute is measured. These marked levels use to measure time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The report identifies the diagram as a seven-stage, repeating process and includes several relevant construction details: the upper bottle is attached to a stand, a straw provides an outlet for excess water, and the lower bottle is used to record levels. It also describes the sequence from covering the hole to releasing it and observing the water. However, some stages are unclear or incomplete. For example, the tap being turned on and the upper bottle being filled until it overflows are not clearly reported, and “water bottle empty” is not quite the final instruction: the diagram says to empty it and repeat the process for timing things. Clarify how the apparatus is assembled and explain how the marked levels are used to measure time.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by descriptions of the setup and operation. Sequencing words such as “Overall,” “Firstly,” and “Once” help the reader follow the process. However, progression becomes difficult to track in the final paragraph, where the account moves between the falling drops, the lower bottle’s markings, and measuring time, with some repetition of the water-level idea. The link “Although” does not express the relationship intended, and “While in this procedure” is an awkward transition. Group the construction details together, then describe the stages in order, using clear references to the upper and lower bottles.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “taped,” “straw,” “horizontal,” “excessive water,” and “measured,” so the reader can identify the main equipment and purpose. There is also some attempt to vary wording, for example “flow” and “drop.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and make details less precise: “water tap” would be clearer as “tap,” “the figure is removed” does not identify the finger, and “containing with level per minute” is difficult to interpret. “Water bottle empty” also does not convey the instruction to empty and repeat the process. Choose precise terms for the components and actions, and use natural collocations such as “water flows” and “markings indicate the water level.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence and the clause beginning “allowing water…”. However, control is uneven, and errors in sentence formation and verb forms sometimes make the process difficult to follow. For example, “the hole at lower side cover with finger” lacks a clear subject and has an incorrect verb form; “this is worked” is not a suitable passive construction; and “These marked levels use to measure time” needs a passive form. There are also problems with articles and sentence boundaries, as in “the how to build” and “this is worked” after a full stop. Practise complete passive sentences, such as “The hole is covered with a finger,” and check each sentence for a subject and correctly formed verb.

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