Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustration demonstrates the working mechanism of mechanical arm and shows that its joint work same as human arm joint.

Overall, the diagram displays that the mechanical arm mainly consist of three motors that function through the computer. The mechanical arm almost functions the same way as a human arm.

The mechanical arm consist of a base which can occasionally move. The base can move the whole setup of mechanical arm. A motor is attached at the base along with a pivot which enables the arm to rotate. Furthermore, a rod is attached to the second motor which works like an elbow and gives flexibility and allows the movement of the arm. This makes a joint that works almost same as a human arm joint.

The elbow of the arm is connected to another rod which acts like a wrist. The wrist allows the gripper to grasp and can be used as an alternative end-effectors providing help in paint spray, in drilling holes and can also be used in welding of metal. The wrist is again connected to a motor that acts as a face of the mechanical arm. The face grippes the objects as sensors are attached to it that controls it. However, all the motors are operated through the computer.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the mechanical arm, identifying the base, motors, rods, and end-effectors. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the comparative nature of the diagram. While you mention the arm functions like a human arm, you could have more effectively highlighted the specific parallels (e.g., motor-to-muscle, rod-to-bone) to better address the 'make comparisons' requirement. The description of the wrist and gripper is a bit disjointed, and some details, such as the specific industrial applications, are mentioned without clearly linking them back to the structural components shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the base, then to the elbow and wrist. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition 'The elbow of the arm is connected to another rod' is functional but basic. The use of cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'However' is present but limited. The paragraphing is generally appropriate, though the final paragraph contains a slightly confusing sequence regarding the wrist and the 'face' of the arm, which makes the progression of ideas feel a bit cluttered.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mechanism', 'pivot', 'flexibility', and 'end-effectors'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'face of the mechanical arm' is not a standard technical term for this context, and 'grippes' is a spelling error. The repetition of 'works like' and 'acts like' limits the sophistication of your writing. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise technical terminology and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('mechanical arm consist' instead of 'consists', 'joints that make up the arm function' is correct, but 'its joint work' is incorrect). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors throughout the text. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles.

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

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