Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-30
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 how a water clock is made and shows the different stages involved in its construction.
Overall, the process have a 7 stages such as tap on, cover hole with finger, fill top bottle to overflow ,level constant ,finger away from hole .level per minutes and empty and repeat process for timing things. thses are the step that help to construct water clock.
First turned on the tap below the tap there was a bottle. step two made a hole in the bottam of the bottle. step three is , fit the straw with glue on the top of the bottle when the bottle overflow water release through the straw. step four. make water level constant. below the bottle keep one more plastic bottle. and remove the finger fom the hole water fall in the second bottle. then write a level per minute on the bottle. step seven, empty and repeat process for timing things . in this construction, keep the stand with bottles and attach with tape.
Coversely, when tap on it release water in the plastic bottle and then water fall from the hole into the second bottle this bottle have a water level per minutes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You identify the diagram as a water-clock process and include several key stages, including turning on the tap, allowing water to flow into a second bottle, marking levels, and emptying the container to repeat the timing process. This gives the report relevant coverage of the task. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the hole is already part of the apparatus, rather than being made at stage two, and the straw is described as being fitted during the process even though it is part of the initial setup. The overview lists the stages but does not clearly summarise how the apparatus measures time. Explain the construction first, then describe the numbered operating steps and the purpose of the marked levels.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph, so there is some attempt to organise the report. The numbered sequence also helps the reader recognise the order of events. However, progression is difficult to follow because construction details and operating stages are mixed together, and several transitions are abrupt: “step four. make water level constant” is followed by the lower bottle and then the water flow. The final paragraph repeats information already given rather than adding a distinct stage. Use one paragraph to describe the apparatus and another to explain the stages in order, with clear links such as “Once the upper bottle is full” and “Finally.”
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant task vocabulary, including “plastic bottle,” “straw,” “stand,” “hole,” and “water level,” which makes the subject recognisable. However, the range is limited and some phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “a level per minute” and “this bottle have a water level per minutes.” Spelling errors such as “thses,” “bottam,” and “fom” also reduce accuracy and can distract the reader. Choose more precise process language and use consistent terms for the containers and markings. For example, describe the lower bottle as collecting the water and say that calibration marks indicate the elapsed time.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple sentences and longer clauses, for example, “when tap on it release water in the plastic bottle and then water fall from the hole into the second bottle.” However, control is uneven: subject–verb agreement is missing in “the process have” and “water fall,” and articles are often omitted in phrases such as “below the bottle keep one more plastic bottle.” Verb forms and sentence boundaries also need attention; fragments such as “step four. make water level constant” interrupt the flow, while commas and full stops are used inconsistently. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles, and tense when describing each stage.
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