Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-24

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 shows a 7 stage procedure to build your own water clock. First lets describe the structure of water clock, a tap, two plastic bottles, a tape, a stand, some glue and a straw are main materials that are seen to build the water clock. Apparatus is made by taking one of the plastic bottles, and cutting its neck off, leaving it on bottom of the stand and marking levels on it to measure the amout of water. The second plastic bottle is taped ,vertically upwards of the bottom bottle, to the upper side of stand with one hole in the bottom of the bottle and one on its upper right side where straw is attached using glue. The Diagram also describes the stages, first stage is to put apparatus under a tap and turn the tap on. Then in stage 2 cover the hole in the bottom of top bottle with your finger. In stage 3 it tells us to fill top bottle until overflown i.e till water reaches the straw and its level remains constant as mentioned in stage 4. Then in stage 5 it is instructed to remove the finger away from hole. Stage 6 is to measure the levels crossed by water per minute in the bottom bottle, a stopwatch can be used to measure accurately and then in Stage 7 it is said to empty the bottle and repeat the procedure for timing things. And there you have it you have built your own water clock.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover both the apparatus and the seven stages, and most details match the diagram: the lower bottle has its neck removed and is marked for water levels, while the upper bottle is attached to the stand and has a straw near its top. The sequence from turning on the tap to releasing the finger and repeating the process is also clear. However, the report does not give a concise overview of how the clock works as a whole, and some details are less fully explained. For example, the diagram’s constant water level is linked to overflow through the straw, while the clock’s timing function depends on the water dripping into the lower bottle and its levels being marked. The stopwatch is an added suggestion, not a feature shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a generally sensible order: you introduce the materials and construction, then describe the numbered stages. Sequencing words such as “First,” “Then,” and “In stage 5” help readers follow the process. However, the response is presented as one long paragraph, so the distinction between the apparatus and the operating stages is not visually clear. Some links are also mechanical or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “stage” and “Then.” The opening moves from the diagram’s purpose to the materials and construction without a clear overview, and the final conversational sentence interrupts the report’s progression. Use separate paragraphs and clearer transitions to group related information and maintain a formal, logical flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “apparatus,” “vertically,” “levels,” “overflow,” and “procedure,” which helps explain the construction and sequence. Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, however: “overflown” is not the appropriate form here, “levels crossed by water” is unclear, and “upwards of the bottom bottle” does not precisely describe the upper bottle’s position. There are also spelling and word-form slips, such as “amout” and “lets.” Aim for accurate process language and natural collocations, for example, describing water as flowing through the straw or dripping into the lower bottle. Avoid informal phrasing such as “And there you have it” in an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “until” and “where,” and the sequence is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, though, in sentence boundaries, articles, agreement, and punctuation. For example, “a tap, two plastic bottles, a tape, a stand, some glue and a straw are main materials” needs an article before “main materials,” while “first stage is” also needs an article. The sentence beginning “The second plastic bottle is taped” is awkwardly punctuated and contains an unclear positional phrase. Capitalisation is inconsistent in “Diagram” and “Stage,” and commas are often missing after introductory phrases. Proofread for complete, clearly punctuated sentences and consistent article use.

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