Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-02

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 5.0)

The diagram illustrates the process of constructing a water clock at home usign simple household materials.

The working principle of water clock is continuous flow of water and can be assembled in five different stages requiring a water bottle, straw, glue, vertical stand, and a clock.

At the first stage, water from tap comes drop by drop and enters the bottle which acts as a reservoir. Water flows into the plastic bottle whose neck is cut off, is the stage six and seven. The water droplets are coming out from the bottom of plastic bottle, which is marked as stage 2 and 5. As stage 4 shows that a straw is glued with upper plastic bottle, which is taped with vertical stand.

Once the water level iis constant, water level can be marked per minute n the lover bottle. Finally, the lower bottle can be emptied and the process is repeated for other events.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a home-made water clock and mention several relevant components, including the tap, bottles, straw and stand. You also include the final idea of emptying the lower bottle and repeating the process. However, the account only partially describes the stages and misassigns several details: the straw is labelled as stage 3, not stage 4, and stages 2 and 5 concern covering the hole and then removing the finger, rather than water droplets emerging. The key sequence—covering the hole, filling the upper bottle until water overflows, then releasing the hole—is not clearly explained. The overview that the clock works through continuous water flow is relevant, but the report needs a more accurate, complete account of how it is assembled and used.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic beginning-to-end shape: it introduces the diagram, describes some apparatus and stages, and ends with repeating the process. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the stages are presented out of order. For example, the account moves from stage 1 to stages 6 and 7, then back to stages 2 and 5, before mentioning stage 4. This makes the process hard to reconstruct. Linking phrases such as “At the first stage” and “Finally” provide some signposting, but they do not consistently match the sequence. Organise the report into an introduction and overview, followed by a chronological description, using clear references such as “next,” “once the bottle is full,” and “after the hole is released.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant set of process and equipment vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “continuous flow,” “glued,” “taped,” and “repeated.” These choices show some range beyond basic description. However, several expressions are imprecise or awkward for this diagram: “a clock” is listed among the materials although the diagram shows no clock, and “water level can be marked per minute” does not clearly convey that the lower bottle is calibrated to show levels over time. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “usign,” “lover,” and “iis,” and some unnatural collocations such as “water from tap comes drop by drop.” Use precise process terms such as “water drips,” “overflow outlet,” and “mark the water level at one-minute intervals.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “the plastic bottle whose neck is cut off” and a time clause beginning “Once the water level…”. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “Water flows into the plastic bottle whose neck is cut off, is the stage six and seven” combines clauses incorrectly, while “The water droplets are coming out … which is marked as stage 2 and 5” has an unclear reference and faulty sentence structure. Articles and verb forms also need attention in “water from tap comes” and “can be assembled.” Proofread sentence boundaries and build each stage as a complete sentence with a clear subject and verb; this will make the sequence easier to understand.

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