Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-03

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 4.5)

The provieded diagram illustrates the procdure of water making clock.

Overall, it is clear how to bulid our own water clock while it have seven stages whereas when the tap on then water fall to the plastic bottel similarly the water drops into another plastics bottel addionatioly it the end the empty and repeat process for timing things.

looking first it the diagram first trun on the tap on then the water fall into the plastic bottel it the end of the bootel have cover hole with finger while thired stage have fill top bottel to overflow then level constant

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the subject as a water clock and recognises that the process has seven stages, so it shows some relevant understanding. However, it describes only a small part of the sequence and does not clearly explain how the apparatus is assembled, including the stand, attached upper bottle, straw, and lower bottle with calibration marks. The later stages—removing the finger, reading the water level per minute, and emptying the bottle to repeat the timing—are not adequately reported. The overview is difficult to interpret, and some stage details are confused. The response is also 50 words below the required minimum, which limits the opportunity to cover the diagram. A fuller account of the equipment and all key stages would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response with an overview followed by a description of the process, and the reference to seven stages gives the reader a basic framework. However, progression is difficult to follow because the stages are not presented in a clear, complete order. The overview combines several steps in one long sentence, while the next paragraph repeats the tap and bottle details before moving to filling and the constant level. Linking expressions such as “while,” “similarly,” and “addionatioly” do not clearly show the relationships between ideas. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and ordered stages, then connect each step with precise sequencing language such as “first,” “next,” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some task-related vocabulary, including “tap,” “plastic bottle,” “overflow,” and “stages,” which helps identify the process. However, the range is limited and several spelling errors make the report less clear, for example “provieded,” “procdure,” “bulid,” “bottel,” and “addionatioly.” Some word combinations are also inaccurate or unclear, such as “water making clock,” “water fall,” and “another plastics bottel.” Aim for precise process vocabulary and accurate forms: for example, describe water as “flowing” or “dripping,” and refer to the containers as the “upper bottle” and “lower bottle.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural collocations would make the meaning easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a longer sentence with “while” and “whereas,” but sentence structures are mostly limited and the longer constructions are difficult to follow. Errors in verb forms and sentence construction appear in phrases such as “when the tap on,” “water fall,” and “then level constant.” Articles and agreement are also unreliable, as in “the empty and repeat process” and “another plastics bottel.” Punctuation is sparse, so several ideas run together rather than forming clear sentences. Practise writing short, complete sentences for each stage, with a clear subject and verb—for example, “The tap is turned on” and “Water drips into the lower bottle”—before combining steps with accurate linking clauses.

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