Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-16

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 5.5)

As in the given diagram we can observe a mechanical arm. It is composed of many parts. These parts are joined together to stimulate the mechanical arm. First of all as given in above diagram there are several motors which are used as the elbows in an human body. There is a base on which the mechanical arm is made up. There is a shoulder which is attached to the base . There is a metal rod used to join the shoulder with elbow. Elbow help in movement of the hand in a perfect way. A rod is joined from elbow to wrist . A gripper is adjacent with the wrist . The wrist helps in proper movement of the gripper. The gripper has sensors to control the force. From the help of that force gripper is easily possible to pick up or hold any object. These whole model is made up with the help of a drill machine to fix the nails in metal. This mechanical arm acts similarly as an human arm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by describing the mechanical arm and its human-like joints. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear overview or a structured comparison between the mechanical and human components. While you mention the base, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and gripper, the explanation of how these function as a system is quite basic. To improve, you should group the information logically—perhaps by moving from the base to the end-effector—and provide a more analytical summary of the similarities rather than just listing the parts. The mention of a 'drill machine' is an external detail not supported by the diagram, which should be avoided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. While there is a basic logical flow from the base to the gripper, the lack of paragraphing and the repetitive use of 'There is' at the start of sentences make the text feel mechanical. Cohesive devices are limited and often repetitive. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and structure your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph for the main components, and a concluding overview.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the physical parts of the arm, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'made up with the help of' and 'in a perfect way' are somewhat informal or imprecise. You rely on basic verbs such as 'joined' and 'helps'. To improve, try to incorporate more technical or descriptive vocabulary related to mechanical engineering or anatomical comparisons, such as 'articulated', 'mimics', 'actuators', or 'precision-engineered'. The word choice is generally understandable, but it does not demonstrate a wide range of lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists mostly of simple sentences. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in an human body' (should be 'a human body'), 'These whole model' (should be 'This whole model'), and 'From the help of that force' (should be 'With the help of that force'). The sentence structure is repetitive, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. To improve, focus on using relative clauses, passive voice (which is very useful for describing diagrams), and varied sentence starters to increase the complexity and accuracy of your writing.

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

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