Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-29

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 6.5)

The picture represents of construction and the process of a water clock with multiple stages.

Overall, two plastic bottle are placed and one with neck and one without neck. However there are three outlets and they are from tap, straw and bottom of the bottle. Once the tap is turned on in the first stage, the water flows inside the plastic bottle which has a hole at the bottom, attached with the stand and sticked with straw using glue. A person needs to block the hole for couple of minutes till the water reaches the straw level. When the water started to overflow through the straw then the water reached the constant level.

After it reached the constant level at the bottom the finger has been taken away from the hole and the water starts to flow inside the another plastic bottle with neck cut off which is placed above the stand. This bottle has markings and by that levels per minute is calculated. Once it reaches the top level, then need to empty it and repeat the same process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks a clear overview of the mechanism. The description of the components is somewhat confusing, particularly the reference to 'two plastic bottles' and the specific configuration of the stand and straw. While the sequence of steps is generally followed, the explanation of how the water level is maintained and how the timing is calculated is slightly underdeveloped. To improve, ensure you clearly identify the components at the start and provide a more precise explanation of the physical principles involved in the water clock's operation, rather than just listing the steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'the water' and 'the bottle'. The transition between the preparation stage and the actual operation of the clock could be smoother. While the logical progression is generally clear, the referencing (e.g., 'the another plastic bottle') is occasionally imprecise, which slightly disrupts the flow of information. Using a wider variety of linking words and clearer pronoun references would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'sticked with straw' and 'timing things', which are not natural in an academic context. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying heavily on simple nouns and verbs. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to technical processes, such as 'apparatus', 'calibrated', 'inflow', or 'regulated'. Additionally, avoid informal phrasing like 'couple of minutes' in favor of more formal alternatives like 'a few minutes' or 'a short duration'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'represents of construction', 'two plastic bottle are placed', and 'the water started to overflow'. There are also issues with article usage and verb tense consistency, such as 'the finger has been taken away'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for process descriptions would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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