Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-12

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 how a mechanical arm is built to work like a human arm.

Overall, a mechanical arm is controlled by a computer with the help of three motors and several joints to be able to work like a human arm.

A mechanical arm is controlled by a computer. It has three motors: one at the shoulder, one at the elbow and the last one at the gripper. The arm has a base which is usually stationary or occasionally movable. The shoulder is attached to the base, it raises or lowers the arm. The pivot attached to the shoulder enables arm to rotate. The elbow offers movement or gives flexibility. The elbow is attached to the gripper through a wrist which is a long cylindrical part has two parts bound together by screws. This wrist allows gripper tp flex or rotate. The last part is the gripper which has built- in sensors that control force used during any work. This mechinery arm is used as an alternative effector for a human arm to spray paint, drill holes or weld metal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram’s main components and give a relevant overview: the computer controls three motors, while joints enable movement and the gripper performs tasks. You also include the base, shoulder, pivot, elbow, wrist and gripper, and mention the alternative uses shown. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear. The diagram does not locate one motor at each of the shoulder, elbow and gripper; it shows three motors connected to different parts of the arm. The wrist is not described as a long cylindrical part with two sections joined by screws, so this appears to be invented detail. The comparison with a human arm is also only broadly stated. More precise reporting of the motor connections and a clearer account of the alternative end-effectors would make the summary more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview and a paragraph describing the components in sequence. This makes the main information reasonably easy to follow, and the progression from the base and shoulder towards the gripper is generally logical. However, the description sometimes reads as a list of separate facts, with repeated openings such as “The arm” and “The elbow.” The sentence “The shoulder is attached to the base, it raises or lowers the arm” joins two independent clauses with only a comma, weakening the flow. Some links between ideas are also unclear, particularly the transition from the wrist description to the alternative uses. Grouping related parts and using more varied, accurate linking would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “pivot,” “flexibility,” “built-in sensors” and “alternative end-effector.” These terms help convey the diagram’s technical subject, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, some word choices are imprecise or unsuitable for a formal process description. “Built to work like a human arm” is broad, while “used as an alternative effector for a human arm” does not clearly express that different tools can be fitted to the mechanical arm. There are also spelling errors, including “tp” and “mechinery,” and “effector” is less accurate here than “end-effector.” Aim for precise technical phrasing and check spelling carefully; this would make the description more fluent and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and some more complex forms, such as “which is usually stationary or occasionally movable” and “which has built-in sensors.” Most of the message remains clear, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. In “The shoulder is attached to the base, it raises or lowers the arm,” two complete clauses are joined with a comma; use a full stop or “and.” The phrase “a long cylindrical part has two parts bound together by screws” needs a relative clause, for example, “a long cylindrical part that has…”. There are also missing articles in “enables arm to rotate” and “allows gripper to flex.” Greater control of clause boundaries, articles and sentence construction would strengthen the response.

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