Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-16

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 functioning on a mechanical arm, and how the mechanisms of the joints relate to a human arm.

Overall, the arm is held by a stationary base that is connected to a motor which represents the main operational part of the machine. The arm is inerconnected to a main system which is the computer and ir determines the specific moves the motors can make. There are additional pictures of alternative end-effectors.

Starting from the base that is usually stationary or occasionally movable, it holds the first motor. This motor has a shoulder that raises and lowers the arm and a pivot that enables the arm to rotate. The arm is connected to another motor, forming the elbow, similar to a human arm, which allows flexibility.

The wrist then follows, and it allows the gripper or an alternative end-effector, to flex or rotate. Other alternative end-effectors include: spray paint, drill holes and weld metal. The final part is the gripper which is held by a motor and is built in with sensors to control force.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main components and their functions, including the base, pivot, shoulder, elbow, wrist and sensor-equipped gripper, and you mention the computer’s control of the motors and the alternative tools. The opening overview also identifies the stationary or movable base and the computer system. Some details, however, are not fully accurate or clearly explained: the base does not itself “hold the first motor” as described, and the diagram shows three motors linked to different parts rather than one motor as the main operational part. The comparison with a human arm is only briefly made at the elbow, and the sequence could explain more clearly how the computer and motors coordinate the joints. This gives a relevant account, but some features are less fully developed than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by a description moving from the base towards the gripper. Paragraphing supports this progression, and phrases such as “Starting from the base” and “The wrist then follows” help guide the reader. However, the sequence is not always easy to follow because the overview says the base is connected to a motor, while the next paragraph assigns the shoulder and pivot to the first motor without clearly distinguishing the joints from the motors. The final paragraph also groups the wrist, alternative tools and gripper together, which makes the relationship between these features less precise. More explicit links between the computer, the three motors and the corresponding joints would make the progression smoother and less dependent on repeated sequencing phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “stationary,” “pivot,” “flexibility,” “end-effectors” and “sensors,” and most of the technical information remains understandable. There are also some imprecise or awkward choices that limit precision: “functioning on a mechanical arm” is not the natural collocation, “main operational part” is vague, and “held by a motor” does not clearly describe the gripper’s connection. “Interconnected” is misspelled as “inerconnected,” while “built in with sensors” is an awkward phrase. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the account, but more accurate collocations and careful spelling would make the description more fluent and technically clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex structures, including the relative clauses in “which allows flexibility” and “which is the computer,” and most sentences communicate their main meaning. Some grammatical errors remain. In “the mechanisms of the joints relate to a human arm,” the comparison would be clearer with a more complete construction; “and ir determines” contains an incorrect pronoun and lacks appropriate punctuation; and “a spray paint, drill holes and weld metal” does not maintain a parallel grammatical form. There is also an extra space in “arm and,” and the comma in “end-effector, to flex” is unnecessary. Greater control of sentence boundaries, parallel lists and punctuation would improve accuracy while preserving your range of structures.

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