Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-02

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 Image given illustrate how to build a water clock. Overall, it is noticeable that the process of making a water clock involves 7 stages, starting with the tap on allowing for water passage and ending with emptying and repeating of the process.

Firstly, water passes through the tap into the plastic bottle which is attached to a stand through a tape, the hole at the end of the bottle is covered allowing water to fill to the top of the container and leveled at a constant which overflows allowing leakages via a straw which is glued to the open part of the bottle. Following this, finger is removed from the blocked hole where water is able to leak into a neck cut off plastic containner, afterwhich water is being allowed to drop gradually into the bottle which levels per minute. Lastly plastic is emptied and process is repeated 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, from turning on the tap to emptying and repeating the clock. It also includes key features such as the upper bottle, stand, straw, lower bottle and the water-level markings. However, some stages are not described clearly or in the correct sequence: the upper bottle is filled to overflow before the finger is removed, but the account compresses these actions and says the hole is covered after water has entered. The explanation of the constant level and the markings that indicate levels per minute is also unclear. To strengthen the report, describe each numbered stage in order and explain more precisely how the overflow and calibrated lower bottle contribute to timing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction and overview are followed by a chronological account, signalled by “Firstly,” “Following this,” and “Lastly.” This gives the reader a generally coherent progression through the process. The main limitation is that nearly all the procedural details are packed into one long paragraph and sentence, so the sequence becomes difficult to follow, particularly around filling, overflow and removing the finger. Some linking is also mechanical, and “afterwhich” does not clearly mark the relationship between the actions. A more controlled progression—such as grouping the apparatus setup and water-flow stages, then using separate sentences for each numbered action—would make the connections clearer and more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “attached,” “overflow,” “straw,” “glued,” and “repeated,” and these choices help convey the main equipment and actions. However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward for this description: “allowing for water passage,” “leveled at a constant,” “leakages,” and “water is being allowed to drop gradually” do not express the stages naturally or precisely. “Plastic containner” also contains a spelling error, while “open part” is less exact than the diagram’s bottle opening or side outlet. Aim for precise process collocations and consistent terms for the containers and water levels; this will make the description easier to interpret without changing its basic meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is an attempt to use both simple and complex structures, especially through clauses with “which” and participle phrases such as “starting with” and “allowing water to fill.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors make the sequence less clear. For example, “The Image given illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the hole at the end of the bottle is covered allowing water to fill” joins actions without clearly showing their order. The long sentence beginning “Firstly” also contains several clauses that are difficult to control. “Lastly plastic is emptied” is missing an article. Use shorter sentences for successive stages, check agreement and articles, and make the timing of actions explicit with accurate verb forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.