Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-27

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 7.0)

The given diagram represents the seven-staged procedure involved in building a water clock.

Overall, this a cyclical process, involving the use of plastic bottles, tape, water and a stand.

In the initial stages of the process, water is filled into one of the plastic bottle which is secured to the upper portion of stand with the help of tape. A small hole is drilled at the bottom of this bottle and another neckless plastic bottle is placed right below the upper one at the base of the stand.

Eventually, the hole in the top bottle is covered with finger until water starts overflowing. When constant water level is achieved in this bottle, the finger is removed away from the base which allows the water to flow down into the second bottle placed under it. The time is calculated as levels per minute. After this water is emptied and the process is repeated for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response provides a clear overview of the process, identifying the main components and the cyclical nature of the task. You have successfully described the key stages, from preparing the bottles to the final timing mechanism. However, the description of the 'seven-staged' process is slightly vague, as the text does not explicitly label or delineate seven distinct steps, which makes the overview feel slightly disconnected from the body paragraphs. To improve, ensure that the stages mentioned in the introduction are clearly reflected in the sequence of the description. Overall, the main features are highlighted, and the purpose of the water clock is explained adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, moving from an introduction to the process description. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraph is quite dense and could benefit from being split to better separate the preparation phase from the operational phase. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stages', 'Eventually', and 'After this' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the description of the physical setup and the actual operation could be smoother to enhance the overall progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cyclical process', 'secured', and 'overflowing' appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'neckless plastic bottle' (which is unclear) and 'removed away from the base'. Additionally, 'timing things' is quite informal for an academic report. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to diagrams and processes, and ensure that your word choices are consistently formal and accurate in their context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'water is filled into one of the plastic bottle' (should be 'bottles') and 'covered with finger' (missing an article). The phrase 'the finger is removed away from the base' is slightly awkward. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the use of articles, and the correct formation of passive voice structures, which are essential for describing processes.

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