Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-03

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 figure illustrates the mechanism of a mechanical work and how the joints forming an arm operates as a human arm.

Overall, the mechanical arm is made up of several parts functioned by several motors controlled by a computer.

The mechanical arm is placed with a base that is usually stationary/ occasionally movable. Just above the base, there is a shoulder that helps to raise or lower the arm and a pivot is in the same region which helps the arm to rotate. In between the shoulders, there is a long metal rod which is joined to an another part through elbow. The elbow provides flexibility for movement. Additionally, wrist is joined to the elbow and it connects to a gripper at the end.

The wrist enables the gripper to flex or rotate, there is a built-in sensor in the gripper which controls the force exerted. Furthermore, three motors can be observed, one is present in the shoulder area, another is in the elbow and the last one is in the wrist connecting gripper. Finally, the motors are controlled by a computer which operates them precisely as needed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, covering the main parts of the diagram such as the base, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and motors. However, the explanation of how the parts function lacks full development and contains some inaccuracies, such as stating that 'three motors can be observed' when the diagram depicts three motors connected to a computer controlling the arm, but the spatial distribution is partially misread or generalised. Ideas are presented, but some features, particularly the alternative end-effectors, are omitted entirely. To move to a higher band, the response would need to select and report all key features of the diagram more accurately and provide a more fully developed overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays some organisation with basic paragraphing, separating the introduction, overall summary, and body details. However, there is no clear overall progression throughout the text, and the logical flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by mechanical or repetitive cohesive devices. For instance, transitions between the structural parts of the arm feel somewhat disjointed. Referencing is also not always entirely clear, such as in the tracking of how the motors connect to the joints. To achieve a higher score, the response would require a more seamless logical progression and a better-managed variety of cohesive devices to guide the reader smoothly through the visual data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common terms such as 'stationary', 'movable', and 'flexibility'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'mechanical work' instead of 'mechanical arm', and 'parts functioned by several motors' instead of 'powered by motors'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but inaccuracies in lexical selection occasionally cause some confusion for the reader. To progress, the writer needs to expand their range of functional vocabulary and demonstrate greater precision in describing technical processes and physical components without relying on repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple and moderately complex forms. Attempts at complex sentences often contain grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('how the joints forming an arm operates') and missing or incorrect articles ('a base that is usually stationary/ occasionally movable', 'Additionally, wrist is joined'). Frequent errors in prepositions and article usage persist throughout the text. To reach a higher band, the writer must demonstrate better control over complex grammatical structures and increase the proportion of error-free sentences while refining punctuation and article consistency.

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

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