Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-07

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 below illustrates the process for making a water clock. Overall, the process has 7 stages and require simple materials. The most important step in the process is to tape the bottle to the stand.

First, take a plastic bottle and make two holes in it. One hole should be at the bottom, from where the water will seep, and the second hole should be near the neck of the bottle, where you will insert the straw and glue it to the bottle. Next, take another plastic bottle and cut off it's neck and make markings on it with the help of a pen, these markings show the time.

Lastly, arrange all the bottles you have prepared. Tape the plastic bottle with two holes on the upper end of the stand, and put the cut plastic bottle at the bottom of the stand, right under the bottle with hole. Now, put this clock under the tap and cover the bottom hole, once the bottle overflows, the excess water will seep through the straw and when the level is constant remove your finger from the hole at the bottom. Use the markings at the bottom bottle so estimate time. Once the bottle is empty you can fill it again and repeat process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The report covers the main construction and operating stages, including the two bottles, the stand, the straw, the overflow, and repeating the process. It also gives an overview that there are seven stages. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram shows a hole at the base of the upper bottle, but does not indicate that the writer must make two holes; the straw is fixed near the top as an overflow drain, rather than simply inserted into a hole near the neck. The overview’s claim that taping the bottle is the most important step is subjective and not a key feature of the process. To develop the account further, describe the numbered stages more precisely, especially the constant water level and the calibration marks.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence, moving from preparing the bottles to assembling the apparatus and then operating it. Paragraphing helps distinguish these phases, and transitions such as “First,” “Next,” and “Lastly” guide the reader. This provides coherent organisation, although the progression is not always as clear as it could be: the opening overview introduces taping as the most important step, then the body gives several preparation details before returning to assembly. Some long sentences also combine multiple actions, making the sequence harder to follow—for example, the sentence beginning “Now, put this clock under the tap…” To improve, use shorter sentences for distinct stages and refer consistently to the upper and lower bottles.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Vocabulary is adequate for describing the apparatus and its sequence, with useful terms such as “overflow,” “stand,” “markings,” and “seep.” The writer also uses process language such as “arrange,” “remove,” and “repeat.” However, some choices are imprecise or informal for a process report: “make two holes” adds an unsupported construction detail, while “put this clock under the tap” is less exact than describing the tap positioned above the upper bottle. “Use the markings … so estimate time” is also an awkward expression. Aim for precise technical wording, such as “attach,” “calibrate,” and “measure elapsed time,” and avoid adding actions that the diagram does not show.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, including sequencing clauses and time clauses such as “once the bottle overflows” and “Once the bottle is empty.” Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are present. For example, “the process has 7 stages and require” has a subject–verb agreement error; “it's neck” should use the possessive form “its”; and “so estimate time” is missing “to.” The sentence beginning “Next, take another plastic bottle…” joins several instructions with commas, creating a run-on structure. Review agreement, possessives, infinitives, and sentence boundaries, and separate instructions when they contain several actions.

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