Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-21

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 displays the sequential steps required to make a water clock.

Overall, the process consists of seven distinct stages, beginning with turning the tap on to fill the plastic bottle and terminating with empty the bottle and repeat process for timing.

Initially, water is filled through the tap placed above the plastic bottle, as the water is filled in the bottle, make sure to cover the hole with the finger placed at the bottom of the bottle. In the further process a straw is attached at the top of the bottle, as the bottle gets filled till the neck for the process of overflow. Next, a tap is used to mark the contant level of the water.

In the further steps as the bottle gets filled gently remove the finger away from the hole. Take another bottle and cut its neck part, place the platic bottle on the stand also mark level in the bottle to note down the levels of the water per minute. In the final step, as the bottle at the bottom gets filled, empty and repeat the process for perfect timing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The report identifies the diagram as a seven-stage process and gives a clear overall summary, from turning on the tap to repeating the process for timing. It also includes several relevant details, such as covering and then uncovering the hole, using a straw for overflow, and marking water levels. However, some stages are misreported or unclear: the straw is already attached near the top, rather than being added during the process, and the constant level is maintained by the overflow, not marked with a tap. The account also blurs the upper and lower bottles and does not clearly explain that water drips into the lower container. More precise coverage of these steps would make the description more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the process. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “Initially,” “Next,” and “In the final step” help guide the reader. This gives the report a coherent overall arrangement. However, some linking is mechanical or repetitive, particularly “In the further process” and “In the further steps,” while several long sentences combine multiple actions without clearly separating them. References such as “the bottle” are also sometimes ambiguous because the diagram contains an upper and a lower bottle. Use clearer stage-by-stage sequencing and name each container when needed to improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “sequential steps,” “overflow,” “stand,” and “levels … per minute,” so the reader can understand the general subject. There is some range in the verbs used to describe actions, such as “cover,” “remove,” “mark,” and “repeat.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “terminating with empty the bottle,” “mark the contant level,” and “for perfect timing” do not express the intended stages naturally. Spelling errors such as “contant” and “platic” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process language, for example “maintain a constant water level” and “record the level reached each minute,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “as” and “to,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “terminating with empty the bottle and repeat process” needs parallel forms, while “as the water is filled in the bottle, make sure to cover the hole” shifts from a passive clause to an unanchored instruction. The sentence beginning “In the further process” also joins actions in a way that makes their sequence unclear. Use consistent passive forms for a process report, such as “The bottle is filled” and “the finger is removed,” and check articles and infinitives, as in “repeat the process.”

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