Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-12

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 6.0)

the diagram illustrates the process for making a water clock.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with water being collected from a tap and ending with the container being emptied and the process being repeated to measure time.

At the first stage, water is collected from a tap and poured into the bottle. While the water is flowing, the hole in the plastic bottle is covered with a finger to prevent the water from flowing out. After this, the upper bottle is filled with water until it overflows. At this point, the bottle needs to contain enough water for the timing process to begin properly.

At the next stage, the water has to remain at a constant level to prevent the timing from becoming inaccurate. Next, remove the finger from the hole and then measure the levels per minute. Lastly, empty the plastic bottle and repeat the whole process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks detail regarding the specific components shown in the diagram, such as the two bottles, the connecting tube, and the scale. By simply referring to 'the bottle' and 'the hole', the description misses the technical nuance required for a process diagram. The overview is functional, but the body paragraphs are somewhat underdeveloped, failing to explain the relationship between the upper and lower containers or the significance of the markings on the side. To improve, you should describe the physical setup more precisely, ensuring all key features of the diagram are mentioned.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into a logical sequence, moving from the initial collection of water to the final measurement. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the preparation phase, and the operational phase. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'After this', and 'At the next stage' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is slightly mechanical, and the transition between the preparation of the water level and the actual timing process could be smoother. Overall, the information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple verbs like 'collected', 'poured', 'filled', and 'remove'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate the range of vocabulary expected for a higher band score. There is little attempt to use more precise technical terminology related to the apparatus (e.g., 'reservoir', 'calibrated scale', 'aperture', or 'flow rate'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific nouns and verbs that describe the mechanics of the process more vividly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and the passive voice is used appropriately to describe the process (e.g., 'water is collected', 'the hole... is covered'). There are no major errors that impede communication. However, the range of structures is somewhat limited; you could improve by varying your sentence beginnings and incorporating more complex subordinating clauses to link the stages of the process more fluidly. Punctuation is generally correct throughout the text.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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