Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-08

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 diagram illustrates the steps for making a water clock.

Overall the process for making a water clock has been described step by step. And the objects that are essential for completing the task have also been mentioned in the illustration. The objects include straw, glue, plastic bottle, tape, a stand and a plastic bottle with its neck cut off.

The setup has been arranged on a stand. The initial step involves turning the tap on, so that water can fall in the plastic bottle. Followed by covering the hole below the bottle with your finger. Fill top bottle to overflow and the excess water starts to spill from the straw keeping the water level constant. Subsequently, move your finger away from hole.

After which, water droplets will start falling into the plastic bottle with its neck cut off placed directly under the first bottle. You can mark levels per minute. In the final step you can empty the bottle when it fills up and repeat the process for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The report covers the main stages in the correct order, from turning on the tap and covering the hole to allowing water to drip into the lower bottle and repeating the process. It also identifies the key materials and gives a useful overall statement that the diagram presents a step-by-step process. The description of the overflow straw keeping the upper bottle’s water level constant is a relevant detail. Some features could be explained more precisely: for example, the lower bottle is used to mark the water level at each minute, rather than simply saying, “You can mark levels per minute.” The construction details—such as attaching the upper bottle to the stand and fixing the straw with glue—are also only listed, not described as actions. Developing these points would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by the setup and then the operating stages. Sequencing expressions such as “The initial step,” “Subsequently,” “After which,” and “In the final step” help the reader follow the process. Paragraphing also separates the overview from the procedural description. However, some links are slightly mechanical or create sentence fragments: “Followed by covering the hole…” and “After which, water droplets…” do not form complete sentences in their current context. The overview’s opening with “And” is also an awkward connection. For smoother cohesion, connect these steps directly to the preceding clauses and use a few clear references to distinguish the upper and lower bottles.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

Vocabulary is adequate for describing the equipment and sequence, with relevant terms such as “overflow,” “excess water,” “water droplets,” and “stand.” The writer also varies some process language through phrases such as “turning the tap on” and “move your finger away.” This range supports clear communication, but some expressions are imprecise or not fully natural for a formal process report. “The objects that are essential for completing the task” is wordy, while “mark levels per minute” does not clearly convey that calibration marks are made on the lower bottle. “The setup has been arranged on a stand” is also less precise than describing how the bottles are attached or positioned. More exact process vocabulary and concise collocations would provide the flexibility and precision needed for a stronger performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple sentences and more complex forms, including the purpose clause “so that water can fall” and the participial phrase “keeping the water level constant.” Most of the sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and sentence-boundary problems persist. “Overall the process… has been described step by step. And the objects…” begins a sentence with a conjunction that does not connect smoothly to the previous one. “Followed by covering the hole…” and “After which, water droplets…” are fragments; these should be joined to complete clauses. The phrase “placed directly under the first bottle” also leaves the reference slightly unclear. Aim to combine the steps into complete sentences and check punctuation and clause structure while retaining the useful variety of sentence forms.

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