Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-18

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 represents a mechanical arm and it's working,it also shows the basic structure and parts that altogether perform the working of an arm .

in total, there are three motors of a mechanical arm and by the computer we can control the movement of machine .The first motor exists in the shoulder part of arm which raises or lowers the arm in doing work.The pivot enables shoulder to rotate.

The second motor controls the actions performed by the elbow of the machine which gives flexibility during action.The third motor is connected with the gripper of the arm, sensors are installed in the grippers to control force. The wrist allows the gripper to rotate in order to pick an object .These were the basic features of a mechanical arm.

This is the description of a mechanical arm whereas,there are more alternatives to this machine,such as,spray paint,drill holes ,weld metals and etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, explaining how the mechanical arm works, the function of the three motors, and the role of the joints such as the pivot, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The computer's role in precision control is also mentioned, along with alternative end-effectors like spray painting and drilling. However, the overview is somewhat fragmented, and the presentation of information lacks a fully developed comparative structure. The details provided are generally accurate according to the visual source, meeting the minimum requirements for Task Achievement at a Band 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text is organized into short paragraphs, attempting an overall logical arrangement from the motors and computer control down to the individual joints and end-effectors. However, cohesion is frequently faulty or mechanical. There are noticeable punctuation and spacing errors throughout the text, such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'working,it also' and 'machine,such as'). Referencing and transitions between sentences are basic, and paragraphing could be used more effectively to structure the description of the system. This corresponds to a Band 5.5 performance in Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating specific terms from the diagram such as 'pivot', 'shoulder', 'elbow', 'wrist', and 'gripper'. The student attempts some less common lexical items (e.g., 'precision control', 'alternative end-effectors'), but word choice and collocation are occasionally awkward, such as 'The first motor exists in the shoulder part of arm'. Spelling and lexical control are generally acceptable, though errors in word formation and phrasing restrict the score to a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The third motor is connected with the gripper of the arm, sensors are installed in the grippers to control force' (which features a comma splice). Grammatical errors are noticeable, including missing articles (e.g., 'in shoulder part of arm'), punctuation errors like comma splices, and awkward phrasing. While meaning is generally clear despite these issues, the frequency of grammatical slips keeps the response at a Band 5.5.

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

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