Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-31

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 water clock is a simple invention used to tell time. First the user needs to turn the tap on to begin the process. Now to proceed, you must cover the whole with a finger. The plastic bottle that has been attached to the stand using tape must now be filled till equilibrium. Once that is done, the level should remain constant and at level with the straw attached to the plastic bottle. The next step would be to remove the finger that was previously covering the hole at the bottom of the bottle. Water will now start dripping, drop by drop, into the cut off portion of the bttle. There are lines that indicate each minute. After doing so, you may now empty the water and repeat the process when you need it. Using this water clock, you now have the ability to time things. It is a remarkable experiment and can be done proficiently anywhere using the write materials.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main steps of the process, but it lacks a clear overview or introduction that summarises the purpose of the diagram. The tone is slightly informal and instructional ('you must cover', 'you may now empty') rather than objective and descriptive, which is expected in an Academic Task 1 report. While the sequence of steps is generally followed, the description of the components (e.g., 'the whole', 'write materials') is imprecise. To improve, focus on describing the mechanical process objectively and ensure the key features of the diagram are highlighted in an introductory summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is presented as a single block of text, which hinders readability. Paragraphing is essential in IELTS writing to separate the introduction, the main body of the process, and the conclusion. While there is a logical sequence using transition words like 'First', 'Now', and 'Once that is done', the lack of paragraph breaks makes the text feel cluttered. The use of cohesive devices is functional but somewhat repetitive. Improving the structure by grouping related steps into distinct paragraphs would significantly enhance the flow and clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several spelling errors ('whole' instead of 'hole', 'bttle' instead of 'bottle', 'write' instead of 'right') that detract from the professional quality of the report. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical terminology related to the diagram, such as 'apparatus', 'equilibrium', 'graduated', or 'inflow', and ensure that spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical slips. For instance, 'the plastic bottle that has been attached' is a passive construction, but the overall control is inconsistent. There are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, the errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed with greater precision to avoid awkward phrasing.

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