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 given diagram is visualizing the experiment to construct a water clock. Following is the formal report for the procedure.

Overall, the process includes seven stages. The things required for construction includes tap, straw, tape, glue, stand, and two types of plastic bottles. One plastic bottle is attached on upper side of stand with a hole on the surface, and second one placed on bottom.

First of all, the process starts by opening the tap and allowing the water to flow into first bottle. Then, cover the hole of upper bottle to let water fill the bottle to and reach a constant level. In the fifth step, remove finger from the hole and allow water to move into second bottle which has no neck. At last, calculate the rise in level of water per minute in bottom bottle to check time. It is a repeatable process. Empty the bottle after one batch and repeat whole procedure again for timing things.

In conclusion, making a water clock is a quite simple thing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks detail and clarity. While you mention the equipment, the description of the assembly process is somewhat vague. For instance, you mention 'two types of plastic bottles' and 'a hole on the surface', but you do not clearly explain how the straw or the tape is used, which are key components in the diagram. The overview is present but could be more descriptive regarding the mechanism of the clock. To improve, ensure you describe the function of every component shown in the diagram to provide a more comprehensive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Then', and 'In the fifth step' to guide the reader through the process. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the transition between the equipment list and the procedural steps could be smoother. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of cohesive devices and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'the first bottle', 'the second one') is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'making a water clock is a quite simple thing' are too informal for an academic report. You use basic terms such as 'things', 'process', and 'construction'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to technical processes and scientific equipment. For example, instead of 'things required', use 'apparatus' or 'components'. Avoid overly simplistic language to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'One plastic bottle is attached on upper side of stand' (missing articles) and 'second one placed on bottom' (missing auxiliary verb). Additionally, 'timing things' is an imprecise and informal phrasing. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on using articles correctly and ensuring that your verb phrases are complete. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help improve your score.

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