Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-01

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)

The diagram illustrates the mechanical performance of a rbobotic arm to the structural and function feartures of a human arm

Overall, the mechanical arm is controlled electronically and powered by independent motors that correspond to human muscles. Furthermore, each mechanical joint—shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand/effector—replicates specific degrees of freedom and functions found in human anatomy

Control Unit: A central computer controls the electric signals sent to individual motors, functioning analogously to the human brain sending nervous impulses. Motors & Movement: Separate motors drive specific joints along the arm, mimicking human muscular contractions that generate force and physical movement.

Shoulder: The base/shoulder motor controls upper movement, functioning similarly to the human shoulder joint. Elbow: An elbow joint provides rotational flexibility and pitch movement, allowing the arm to extend and retract like a human elbow. Wrist & End Effector: The end of the mechanical arm features a wrist assembly driving a tool or gripper (end effector). This setup performs tasks analogous to human hand movements, such as gripping, holding, or operating specialized equipment (e.g., drills or spray guns).

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining how the mechanical arm works and comparing its components to a human arm, earning credit for a clear overarching purpose. Key features such as the central computer, individual motors, base, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and end effectors are reported accurately based on the visual data. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat uneven. While sections like the wrist and end effector are described well with examples like drills and spray guns, other components are described rather briefly, which prevents the response from moving into higher bands. The introduction also contains a minor typo in the prompt's premise, but the core features are adequately selected and contrasted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression from the general description down to specific joints. The writer attempts to structure the response using clear headings and introductory overview statements. However, referencing and cohesive devices are occasionally mechanical or slightly disjointed due to the heavy reliance on bullet-like labeling formats rather than fully integrated cohesive prose. Paragraphing is present, but the physical formatting of the text creates abrupt transitions between the detailed sections. To achieve a higher band, the response would need smoother inter-sentential transitions and a more unified flow throughout the body paragraphs without relying on semi-structured breaks.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terminology such as 'electronic signals', 'rotational flexibility', 'end effector', and 'specialized equipment'. There are, however, a few spelling and word-choice errors that reflect limitations at this level, such as 'rbobotic' and 'feartures' in the opening sentence. Less common lexical items are attempted with varying degrees of success; while some collocations like 'independent motors' and 'muscular contractions' work well, others feel slightly forced. These minor lexical inaccuracies do not impede communication, allowing the reader to easily follow the technical explanations provided.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases effectively, such as in 'functioning analogously to the human brain sending nervous impulses.' There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing periods at the ends of major paragraphs and occasional awkward phrasings, but these errors rarely impede communication and do not strain the reader. The majority of the simple structures are accurate, and complex forms are attempted with reasonable control. To reach a higher band, the writer would need to demonstrate a wider variety of complex structures with more consistent error-free execution across all sentences.

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