Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-19

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 demonstrates the process for making a water clock.

Overall ,the process for making a water clock consists of seven stages.Starting with the tap and ending with the time it takes to level up the bottles in order to measure time.

The first step of the process begins with the water tap.Under the tap a stand is fixed. .On the surface of the stand a plastic bottle is placed with its neck being cut off.On the upper end of that stand another plastic bottle is fixed with its neck intact.A straw is stuck in the bottle with glue.

Tap water flows through the upper bottle .The hole of the top bottle is covered with a finger.The bottle is filled untill it the water overflows.The level of water in both the top and bottom bottles is same .The finger is put away from the hole .Then the levels per minutes are counted.Finally the bottles are emptied and the process is repeated for timing different things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main purpose and give a broadly accurate account of the sequence, including attaching the straw, filling the upper bottle until it overflows, releasing the hole, and repeating the process. The overview identifies seven stages, but “ending with the time it takes to level up the bottles” is unclear and does not accurately summarise the final stage, which is to empty and repeat the process for timing things. Some construction details are also imprecise: the lower bottle has its neck cut off, while the upper bottle is attached to the stand; the stand itself is not fixed under the tap. The account would be stronger with a clearer overview of how water flow and marked levels enable timing, and more precise descriptions of the apparatus.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression: it introduces the process, gives an overview, describes the equipment, and then follows the operating stages. Sequencing expressions such as “The first step,” “Then,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the procedure. This coherent arrangement is a strength. However, the division between construction and operation is not clearly signalled, and the description moves from the stand and bottles to the water sequence without a distinct paragraph or transition. Some links are also abrupt, particularly “The level of water in both the top and bottom bottles is same,” which does not clearly connect the overflow stage to the calibration. Grouping the apparatus description and operating stages into separate paragraphs, with more explicit links, would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “upper bottle,” “hole,” “overflows,” “levels,” and “repeated,” so the reader can generally understand the procedure. There is some useful variation in describing actions, such as “fixed,” “stuck,” and “flows.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for a process report: “level up the bottles” does not clearly describe water levels, and “levels per minutes are counted” is not an accurate way to express the calibration marks or timing. “The surface of the stand” is also vague when describing where the lower bottle rests. Aim for precise terms such as “water level,” “calibration marks,” and “attached,” and check spelling and word forms such as “until” and “minute.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and more complex forms, including “with its neck being cut off” and “in order to measure time.” Most of the sequence remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “The level of water in both the top and bottom bottles is same” needs an article and a clearer comparison, while “The bottle is filled untill it the water overflows” contains an extra pronoun and an incorrect spelling. There are also sentence-boundary and punctuation problems, such as the extra full stop in “fixed. .On” and inconsistent spacing around punctuation. Use complete, carefully punctuated sentences and check articles, agreement, and clause structure to improve accuracy.

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