Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The modern world is a place where people are running after money, though they also want to find a job that is satisfactory for their minds and health. Some people say that poor people who do not have a decent job should accept the situation, while other individuals think that they should try hard to improve their situation. In this essay, I will discuss both views and give my own opinion.

Generally speaking, some people think that no action is needed to improve their lifestyle, whatever their situation is in the present. Perhaps there are some reasons for this thinking. Firstly, people are not motivated or confident to do something like making dreams come true. For example, if someone wants to do something to improve themselves, they are stuck at the first step because they failed on the first attempt and think the hard work will not bring anything new. If the fall does not happen, how can a person be led to the highest position?

On the other hand, the individuals who think people should try to recover from their hardship have many reasons because hard work wins, and in this condition, no one can help until they begin to help themself. Furthermore, hard work is key to success; if you work hard, you will overcome any kind of hard situation. For instance, the nation will overcome the bad condition if all its citizens work hard; it will become a better nation. Not only the nation, but people also find themselves in the highest position. I personally agree with the view of the people who said that trying is better than doing nothing.

In conclusion, I reiterate my opinion that trying to overcome a bad situation is crucial. Without doing anything, no one can achieve the goal of life. Everybody should try their best to minimise the hardship in every situation, whether it is good or bad.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve difficult circumstances, especially in the introduction and conclusion. The discussion of perseverance is relevant, and the example of citizens working to improve their nation gives some support. However, the first view is not fully explained: the paragraph mainly describes people who lack motivation or confidence, rather than why accepting a bad situation might be a reasonable choice, such as avoiding risk or valuing stability. The second view also relies on broad claims such as “hard work wins” without a specific, developed example. To strengthen the response, explain the practical reasoning behind each position and show more clearly how your examples support your opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking phrases such as “Firstly,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main stages. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “If the fall does not happen, how can a person be led to the highest position?” is difficult to connect to the preceding point, and the shift from individual hardship to a nation’s condition is abrupt. The repeated references to “hard work” also make progression feel circular. Develop each paragraph around one main idea, then use a specific explanation or example to lead naturally to the next point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “unsatisfactory,” “motivated,” “hardship,” and “overcome,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more expressive phrasing, such as “making dreams come true.” However, some word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, including “running after money,” “recover from their hardship,” and “the highest position.” “The fall does not happen” is also unclear in this context. These choices sometimes make the argument less precise, even though readers can usually understand the intended meaning. Aim for natural combinations such as “pursuing financial security,” “overcome hardship,” and “reach a senior position,” and choose vocabulary that directly expresses the point you want to make.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “if you work hard, you will overcome…” and a concessive opening with “though.” Most sentences communicate their main meaning, and punctuation generally supports the paragraph structure. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement and pronouns: “no one can help until they begin to help themself” has an inconsistent pronoun form, and “the individuals who think people should try … have many reasons” is awkwardly constructed. The sentence beginning “Not only the nation, but people also…” also has an unbalanced structure. Practise checking pronoun agreement and parallel sentence patterns, and revise longer sentences to ensure that each clause is grammatically complete and clearly connected.

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