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 given diagram illustrate how a mechanical arm works, and how the joints that make up the arm function in the same way as in a human arm works.
Overall as it can be seen, mechanical arm is working mostly in same way as human arm with all the basic movements human arm perfoms to complete any certain action.
On the one hand, as we can see base is usually representing human shoulder functionality as it is movable when needed just like the base. Furthermore we have pivot which enables mechanical arm to rotate just like human joints are there in the body. As we can see elbow is allowing movement just like human elbow but only 180 degrees of movement is allowed which provides flexibility and motors are connected overall the arm to control the movement through computers.
On the other hand, wrist allows gripper to rotate and it works similarliy like human forearm, while gripper is acting like hand with palm and fingers allowing mechanical arm to perfom certain movements such as grabbing, pressing and pulling. Lastly control force is adjusted through motors which are working through computer.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the task partially by summarizing parts of the diagram, but it contains inaccuracies and omissions. For instance, the text states that the base is 'movable when needed', whereas the diagram clearly specifies that the base is '(usually stationary/occasionally movable)'. Furthermore, important components like the alternative end-effectors used for spray painting, drilling, and welding are omitted from the summary. The student attempts to provide an overview, but the ideas remain limited and under-developed, preventing the response from reaching a higher level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays some organization with an introductory paragraph and separate body paragraphs, but there is no clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'As we can see' to link ideas. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the pronoun use in 'just like the base' when describing the shoulder functionality. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical flow of information needs better connection to guide the reader smoothly through the technical components of the diagram.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey basic concepts about the mechanical arm, such as 'movement', 'flexibility', and 'rotation'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'motors are connected overall the arm' and 'control force is adjusted'. Word formation issues also appear, such as 'similarliy'. These inaccuracies sometimes cause confusion for the reader. To improve, the student needs to incorporate a wider range of precise technical terms and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are several grammatical errors throughout the response, such as subject-verb agreement issues in 'The given diagram illustrate', missing articles in 'as human arm works', and awkward prepositional usage. Punctuation is also weak, leading to run-on sentences, such as the opening sentence and the final sentence of the third paragraph. These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a need for better control over basic and complex grammatical patterns.
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