Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-04

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 the working of a mechanical arm and the functioning of indivudual joints of the arm that work in a similar way as that of the human arm.

Overall, the mechanical arm is made functional with computer-precision control of three motors fixed at different joint levels. Additionally, this arm has three parts similar to the human arm namely-shoulder, elbow and wrist where the motors are placed.

Coming to the placement of motors, they are arranged at three different levels in the mechanical arm and provides three different funtions. The motor placed at the shoulder level helps in raising or lowering the arm. The elbow level motor allows movement or gives flexibility while the wrist level motor allows the gripper to flex or rotate.

Moreover, there are three more functionally important parts of the mechanical arm. First, the base: that is usually stationary or can be moved occationally. Second, the pivot: which aids in rotating the arm. And lastly, gripper: which has built-in sensors to control the force of the arm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by describing how the mechanical arm works, reporting its main features, and drawing clear parallels to the human arm. For instance, the overview accurately captures the core function of the three motors and the anatomical comparison to shoulders, elbows, and wrists. While the main features are well selected and presented, some details are slightly under-developed or generalized. For example, the text mentions the base, pivot, and gripper in a concluding paragraph, but could have elaborated further on how the computer precision control integrates with these components to reach a higher level of detail. Overall, the information is accurate and grounded closely in the provided visual data, fulfilling the expectations for this band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. The student effectively uses paragraphing to group information logically, moving from an introductory overview to the placement of motors, and finally to the remaining key components like the base, pivot, and gripper. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader, with transitional phrases such as 'Overall,' 'Coming to the placement of motors,' and 'Moreover' ensuring a smooth flow of ideas. Although referencing and linking are generally clear and coherent, occasional mechanical or slightly repetitive transitions prevent the writing from achieving a more fluid, higher-level cohesion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to structure the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common and precise terms related to mechanics and anatomy, such as 'precision control', 'flexibility', 'end-effectors', and 'built-in sensors'. However, there are a few notable lexical errors and spelling mistakes that prevent a higher score, such as 'indivudual' instead of 'individual', 'funtions' instead of 'functions', and 'occationally' instead of 'occasionally'. Despite these minor flaws, the vocabulary remains sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly, and communication is never impeded by these word-choice and spelling inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent command of grammar overall. Sentences such as 'The motor placed at the shoulder level helps in raising or lowering the arm' and 'the wrist level motor allows the gripper to flex or rotate' show good control over relative clauses and gerund structures. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation present throughout the text, such as the incorrect plural agreement in 'provides three different funtions' and some awkward punctuation usage around colons and hyphens. Nevertheless, these errors are relatively sparse and rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the mechanical descriptions smoothly.

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.