Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-21

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 6.0)

Human body is a complex structure. Although we do not notice how our limbs work, there is deep science behind every single one.

Similarly, there are machines that work effortlessly, but if we look in depth, we understand the mechanics behind the functions.

Speaking of an arm, a human arm works with the help of the elbow joint. A mechanical arm works the same way too!

As the foundation, there's a base. It is a flat stationary block that the entire structure of the arm is balanced on.

The shoulder of the arm rests on the base. It helps raise or lower the arm; exactly the way a human shoulder works. There is also a pivot which enables the arm to rotate, that is connected to the shoulder. Additionally, there is another part connected to the shoulder: the elbow. It allows movement and gives flexibility to the arm, being one of the major most important joint.

The elbow then leads out to wrist that enables the gripper (or alternative end-effector) of the arm to flex or rotate. Speaking of the gripper, one can think of it like a human hand. The alternative end-effectors are the changeable parts that can be put as the hand of the machine. Examples can include a spray paint nozzle or a welder to weld metal.

The gripper moreover, has built-in sensors that control force and power while "gripping" anything.

The arm and the movement of the joints are precisely controlled by a computer. There are elctric motors connected to A. the shoulder, B. the elbow, and C. thr gripper; to ensure smooth movement and precise control of the user.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to summarise the diagram showing how a mechanical arm works and compares its joints to human arm joints. However, the candidate spends too much time on general opening remarks rather than focusing directly on reporting the visual data. While key features such as the base, shoulder, pivot, elbow, wrist, and gripper are mentioned, the report lacks a clear overall summary or synthesis of how the system operates as a whole. Furthermore, the description of the motors is somewhat disjointed and placed at the end of the response. To reach a higher band, the writer should integrate a clear overview paragraph at the beginning and systematically report all components and their functions without conversational preamble. Band score: 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text is organized into paragraphs, though the introductory paragraphs are overly narrative and chatty for an Academic Task 1 response. Progression is sometimes hindered by conversational asides such as 'Speaking of an arm...' and 'Speaking of the gripper...'. Cohesive devices are used, but referencing is occasionally loose, such as the pronoun use connecting the various sections. Paragraphing is present, but the body paragraphs are quite dense and could be broken down more logically to separate structural components from control mechanisms. Band score: 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary shows an adequate range for the task, successfully incorporating specific anatomical and mechanical terms from the diagram such as 'foundation', 'stationary block', 'pivot', 'flexibility', and 'end-effector'. There are some attempts at less common phrasing ('alternative end-effectors', 'built-in sensors'). However, there are a few noticeable typos and awkward collocations, such as 'major most important joint' and 'elctric motors'. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey the main features, though precision and spelling require more care. Band score: 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and conditional structures. There are several good complex sentences, such as 'As the foundation, there's a base' and 'It allows movement and gives flexibility to the arm...'. However, grammatical and spelling errors occur throughout, such as 'elctric', 'thr gripper', and missing articles ('leads out to wrist'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but sentence boundary errors and typos prevent the writing from achieving a higher score. Band score: 6.0.

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

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