Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-20

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 of building own water clock.

Overall, 7 stages are given to build own water clock starting with turning the tap on and covering the hole with finger. When the finger is removed, levels per minute can be calculated. The plastic bottle can be emptied and by repeating the process time can be calculated for things.

Firstly, two plastic bottles, one with neck and one without neck is placed at a distance. One plastic bottle with a tiny hole at its bottom is taped to a stand. Whereas, second bottle without the neck is placed at a distance below the first on a stand. To build a water clock, tap is turned on and finger is placed to cover the hole at the bottom of the bottle. Let the water fill the bottle till it overflows from the straw attached to it with glue until the level is constant. The finger is moved away , water will start dripping into the second bottle where we can measure the level per minute. To get the timing of a thing it has to be emptied and process should be restarted.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from the initial setup to the measurement phase. The overview is clear and identifies the key stages. However, the description of the apparatus is slightly confusing; for instance, the mention of 'one with neck and one without neck' is a bit vague, and the explanation of the straw and glue could be more precise. While the main steps are covered, the response would benefit from a more logical flow between the physical setup and the operational phase to ensure the reader fully understands the mechanism. Overall, it addresses the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Whereas', and 'To get the timing' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the setup of the bottles and the actual operation of the clock is slightly abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal structure of the second paragraph could be improved by separating the assembly of the equipment from the operational instructions to enhance clarity and flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'calculated', and 'overflows'. There are some repetitive phrases, such as 'plastic bottle' and 'at a distance', which limit the range. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'timing of a thing', which could be expressed more precisely. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the variety and precision required for a higher band score. There are no significant spelling errors, and the terminology used is relevant to the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'building own water clock' (missing 'a' or 'your'), 'one without neck is placed' (subject-verb agreement), and 'finger is moved away , water will start' (punctuation error). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description, but the control over articles and prepositions needs more attention to achieve greater accuracy.

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

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