Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how a mechanical arm works, and how the joints that make up the arm function in the same way as those in a human arm. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The diagram illustrates how a mechanical arm functions, and how the joints that make up the arm work similarly to those in a human arm.

Overall, it has a base, shoulder, pivot and a gripper which are controlled by a motor. Additionally, a computer is used to control the motors.

The base is usually stationary or occasionally movable, and is attached to the shoulder which raises or lowers the mechanical arm. It acts like a human shoulder which is articulated to the shoulder bones. The pivot enables the arm to rotate just like the ball and socket joint in a human arm. The elbow allows movement or gives flexibility. Between the elbow and the gripper is a wrist that acts as an alternative end-effector and allows the gripper to rotate it connects the gripper and the elbow. The gripper has a build-in sensors control force to work as a palm.

There are three motors. One is connected to the shoulder, elbow and the gripper. A computer is used for precision and control of motors. There are also alternative end-effectors including spray paint, drill holes and the weld metal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main components of the mechanical arm and established the comparison with human anatomy. You covered the base, shoulder, pivot, elbow, wrist, and gripper, as well as the control systems. However, the description of the 'end-effectors' is slightly confusing; you listed 'spray paint, drill holes and the weld metal' as end-effectors, whereas these are actually the tasks or applications the arm performs. To reach a higher band, ensure you distinguish clearly between the components of the machine and the functions they perform. The overview is present but could be more integrated to highlight the mechanical-human parallel more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, moving from the general structure to specific joints and then to the control mechanisms. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview, the physical description, and the technical details. However, some cohesive devices are used in a slightly mechanical way, such as 'Additionally' and 'There are also'. The sentence structure in the third paragraph is occasionally repetitive, and the flow between the description of the wrist and the gripper could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'articulated', 'stationary', 'precision', and 'end-effector'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'build-in sensors control force' should be 'built-in sensors that control force', and 'weld metal' is not the standard term for the process (welding). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise technical collocations would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'the gripper to rotate it connects the gripper and the elbow' (a run-on sentence) and 'build-in' instead of 'built-in'. Additionally, the phrase 'drill holes' is grammatically inconsistent with the other items in the list of end-effectors. While the meaning remains clear, these frequent minor errors in syntax and word form indicate a need for more careful proofreading. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band.

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

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