Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

This report will describe a diagram showing the process for making a water clock. Overall, it can be seen that it requires seven steps in order to build a complete water clock with the usage of plastic bottles, a tape, a glue, a straw, and a stand.

Firstly, the hole on the top bottle must be covered with a finger before the tap is opened to fill the bottle to overflow which then will be kept at a constant level with the help of a straw that will spill the excess water.

Secondly, take your finger away from the hole. The water will start coming out as droplets into the plastic bottom that was on the bottom with its neck cut off. Lastly, leave marks on it using a marker to indicate the minute levels. Once all these stages are done, empty the bottles and repeat it again to use it as a clock for timing things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The report identifies the diagram as a seven-stage process and gives a relevant overview of the materials and the clock’s purpose. It also describes the overflow straw, the water entering the lower bottle, marking levels, and repeating the process. However, the sequence is not fully accurate: the tap is turned on before the hole is covered, whereas the report says the hole is covered first. The explanation of the lower bottle and calibration is also less precise: the diagram shows water levels being marked on the bottle, rather than simply “minute levels.” To strengthen the response, describe the apparatus and stages in their exact order, including the stand and the bottle’s attachment, and clarify how the marks correspond to elapsed time.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs describing the process. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly” help the reader follow the stages. However, the organisation is somewhat mechanical, and the first sequence is confusing because “before the tap is opened” reverses the diagram’s order. The phrase “the plastic bottom that was on the bottom” also makes the reference to the lower bottle unclear. Grouping the construction details first, then explaining the operating sequence in order, would create a more logical progression. Use transitions to show the relationship between steps without relying mainly on ordinal markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the process, with relevant terms such as “overflow,” “excess water,” “droplets,” and “indicate.” The writer also attempts process-specific language, which helps communicate the main idea. Some choices are imprecise or repetitive, however: “plastic bottom that was on the bottom” is awkward, and “leave marks on it” does not specify that the marks are calibration lines. “With the usage of” is also an unnatural collocation. More precise terms for the components and actions would improve clarity and flexibility, for example, naming the lower bottle as a container and describing the marks as level indicators. Check article use in material lists as well, since “a tape” and “a glue” are not natural forms here.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a relative clause in “which then will be kept at a constant level” and a time clause beginning “Once all these stages are done.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical choices reduce precision. In “before the tap is opened to fill the bottle,” the passive construction obscures who or what fills it, while “the plastic bottom that was on the bottom” has an unclear and repetitive clause structure. The phrase “that will be kept” also has an awkward reference to the water level. Use direct present-tense process descriptions consistently, and check clause references and sentence structure so each action and object is unmistakable.

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