Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-13

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 illustartes the functioning of a mechincal arm and shows similarities in the working of human and mechanical arm.

Initially, the diagram represents that mechnical arm has 3 motors that work similar to the three major joints of human arm and the accuracy of motor functioning is controlled by the computer.

First of all, there is a motor at the base which is usually stationary or move occasionally is being related to shoulder joint which is relatively more mobile as compared to base and helps in lifting arm overhead and bringing back.

Then comes the motor between the mechnical that works as elbow joint of human arm which plays a very crucial role, providing flexibility and allowing movement.

Lastly, the motor at the distal end performs as wrist joint that allows grippers to bend and rotate. In addition, grippers have built in sensors to control forces. Moreover, alternative end effectors such as spray paints or drill holes can also work instead of grippers at the end of arm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram’s main components and explain several functions, including the computer’s control of the motors, the elbow’s flexibility, and the gripper’s sensors. However, the comparison with a human arm is not consistently accurate: the three motors do not each correspond to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, and the base is not itself a motor. The description also omits the pivot’s rotation function and the shoulder motor’s role in raising and lowering the arm. The alternative end-effectors are only partly reported: welding is missing, and “spray paints or drill holes” describes actions rather than the tools shown. A clearer overview of how the arm is controlled and what its main joints do would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows a generally understandable sequence, moving from the computer and motors to the arm’s joints and then to alternative end-effectors. Linking phrases such as “Initially,” “First of all,” “Then,” and “Lastly” help signal this order. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the opening repeats the idea that the diagram shows how the arm works. Some references are unclear, particularly “the motor between the mechnical,” which makes it difficult to identify the part being described. Grouping the control system, the arm’s joints, and the end-effectors into distinct sections or paragraphs, and using clearer references to each component, would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant technical vocabulary, including “motors,” “flexibility,” “grippers,” “sensors,” and “end effectors,” which helps convey the subject. There is also some attempt at more precise description, such as “distal end.” However, spelling errors in key terms—“illustartes,” “mechincal,” and “mechnical”—are noticeable, and some word combinations are inaccurate or awkward. For example, “spray paints or drill holes” names activities rather than the tools, while “control forces” is less precise than describing control of gripping force. Aim for accurate spelling and natural collocations, and distinguish clearly between a component and the action it performs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “which” and “that,” and most of the meaning remains understandable. However, some grammatical errors affect clarity. In “a motor at the base which is usually stationary or move occasionally is being related,” the verb forms and clause structure do not fit together; a clearer version would be “the base is usually stationary, although it can occasionally move.” The phrase “the motor between the mechnical” is also incomplete, and “grippers to bend and rotate” needs a clearer grammatical link to the wrist. Check subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries, and use simpler constructions where a longer sentence becomes difficult to control.

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