Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-01

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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates the function of mechanical arm and how the joints help the arm to do function in the same way as those in a human arm.

Overall the diagram shows that there are different parts of mechanical arm which works collectively to move the arm. These parts includes a base, a shoulder, a pivot, wrist and elbow. Moreover, three motors are also attached to mechanical arm which allows all the parts to function precisely. In turn, the motors are controlled by a computer.

Firstly, one motor is connected to gripper of arm which built a force on wrist and second motor gives the flexible movement to elbow which enables the pivot of arm to rotate by pushing a force on shoulder.

Furthermore, the third motor is attached to to the shoulder part of arm which helps the shoulder to raise and lowers the arm. As a result, the arm exhibits movement and make a hole or can spray a paint by pushing a force.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the components and their functions. However, the description of the mechanical processes is somewhat simplistic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the explanation of how the motors interact with the joints is a bit vague, such as 'built a force on wrist' and 'pushing a force on shoulder'. While the main features are reported, the comparison to the human arm mentioned in the prompt is only briefly touched upon in the introduction and not developed further in the body paragraphs. To improve, ensure that the mechanical relationships are described with more technical accuracy and that the comparison to human anatomy is integrated more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'As a result' are used to guide the reader through the information. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the use of 'in turn' and 'in the same way'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear overall progression from the general components to the specific functions of the motors. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical links between the mechanical parts are more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the mechanical arm's components (base, shoulder, pivot, wrist, elbow). There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'built a force' (should be 'exerts force') and 'make a hole' (should be 'drill a hole'). The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher levels. To improve, focus on using more precise technical verbs and collocations related to mechanical movement and engineering processes, and avoid repetitive phrasing like 'pushing a force'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('to gripper of arm', 'to shoulder part of arm') and subject-verb agreement issues ('These parts includes', 'motors... which allows'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate better control. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and ensure that verbs agree with their subjects, particularly when using relative clauses.

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

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