Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-26

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 gives information about a mechanical arm and how it works in the same way as human arm with the functions.

Overall, three motors are present in the arm which controls the base, elbow and gripper.

The arm is usefull in many ways like spray paint, drill holes in the wall and to weld metals also.

To start with, the computer manages the control of motors, there are three motors through which the movements of arm is manage. The first motor is connected to the base which is stationary most of the time but sometimes it is movable also. A shoulder is above the base which helps in rasing or lowering the arm. In the front of the base a pivot is attached which enables arm to rotate.

The second motor allows the elbow movement and gives a flexibilty to the arm. The third motor controls the gripper which is built-in sensors that control the force and the wrist allows the gripper to rotate. The arm function in the same ways like a human arm work like spray paint, drill holes and weld metal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram’s main subject and include several relevant features: the computer controls the motors, the shoulder raises or lowers the arm, the elbow provides flexibility, and the gripper’s sensors regulate force. You also mention the alternative uses shown. However, some relationships are misreported: the first motor is not described as controlling the base; the diagram links the motors to the elbow, arm section near the wrist, and gripper. The pivot enables rotation, while the base is usually stationary and only sometimes movable. Your overview also says the motors control the base, elbow and gripper, omitting the wrist-related connection. To strengthen the summary, describe the arm’s main arrangement and motor connections accurately, and avoid suggesting that the arm itself performs the alternative tasks in the same way as a human arm.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a description beginning with the computer and moving through parts of the arm. Sequencing phrases such as “To start with” and “The second motor” help the reader follow the explanation. However, the progression is not consistently clear because the motor connections are described in a confusing order, and the pivot is introduced as being “in the front of the base,” which does not clarify its place in the diagram. The final sentence repeats the alternative uses rather than concluding the description. Use paragraphs to separate the overview from the detailed account, and connect each motor directly to the component it controls.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “stationary,” “pivot,” “flexibility,” “gripper,” and “built-in sensors,” which helps convey the diagram’s technical content. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive. For example, “the arm is usefull in many ways” is vague, and “the arm function in the same ways like a human arm work” does not express the comparison clearly. There are also spelling errors such as “usefull,” “rasing,” and “flexibilty.” Aim for precise process language and accurate forms: describe what each component “allows,” “controls,” or “enables,” and refer to the alternative end-effectors as tools or attachments rather than saying the arm works like a human arm to perform them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, including clauses with “which” and “but,” and the main meaning is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with subject–verb agreement, verb forms, and articles. For instance, “three motors … controls” should use a plural verb, while “the movements of arm is manage” needs an article and a passive form (“the arm’s movements are managed”). In “the gripper which is built-in sensors,” the clause structure is incomplete; the sensors should be described as being built into the gripper. The final sentence also combines ideas without a clear grammatical relationship. Check agreement and passive constructions, and make sure each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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