Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Some individuals are of the opinion that it is better to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory work or lack of money rather than trying to improve it. On the other hand, some think they should strive to make the situation better. I personally think that one should accept the adversity and not be in denial of it while also being ambitious about getting better.

Bad times can come in people's lives when they least expect it. It could be unsatisfactory jobs, low salaries, health issues, losing close ones, etc; to name a few. If people just accepted it as is and get stuck up on it, they will never get free from the shackles of these bad times. If the adversity is making them anxious or sad then they will lose the will to make it better and if the situation doesn't get better, it will in turn make them even more anxious. They will be stuck in this loop of turmoil. To escape this loop, they must muster up some courage and atleast start to make it better. There is always a solution for every problem, for instance, If money is a problem then people can find better jobs in the market or identify a way to monetize their hobbies.

Being optimistic is also very important as the real battle begins in our minds. A strong mind can face any adversity easily. I personally have followed this philosophy when my mother was ill and I had to appear for my board exams. Instead of making an excuse and scoring low marks, I gave it my all and stayed in the present while writing the exam. I knew everything will be alright and I just have to do my current best. Worrying about the past or the future is futile and only ruins the present.

In conclusion, I believe that ambition and optimism can help any person come out of a miserable scenario

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your response gives a clear personal view: you argue that people should acknowledge adversity while remaining ambitious and optimistic. You also discuss trying to improve difficult circumstances, using money and job choices as an example, and include a relevant personal experience involving your mother’s illness and your exams. However, the two views are not balanced: the case for accepting a bad situation is introduced but not really explained as a valid approach, and the essay mainly argues for action and optimism. The personal example supports perseverance, but it does not directly illustrate accepting a situation. Develop why acceptance may sometimes be sensible, then explain how acceptance can coexist with efforts to improve circumstances.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to discussion, a personal example, and a conclusion. Paragraphs generally have identifiable purposes, and links such as “On the other hand,” “To escape this loop,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. The progression is understandable, though the discussion of acceptance is quickly replaced by an argument for taking action, so the relationship between the two views is not fully developed. Some connections are also a little mechanical, and the long list of hardships in the second paragraph interrupts the focus on the essay question. Make the paragraph sequence more deliberate by explaining each view separately and then linking them in your own position.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary and show some flexibility with expressions such as “adversity,” “shackles,” “turmoil,” and “optimistic.” These choices help convey emotional difficulty and determination, and meaning remains clear throughout. There are also some imprecise or unnatural collocations, including “an unsatisfactory work,” “get stuck up on it,” and “make it better.” “Bad times” and “miserable scenario” are understandable but broad, and “atleast” is incorrectly written as one word. To strengthen your vocabulary, choose more precise phrases for the situation and use collocations that sound natural in formal writing. Your attempts at less common language are promising, but need more consistent control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “If people just accepted it as is…” and a longer sentence explaining how anxiety can reinforce itself. Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and errors rarely obstruct understanding. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain: “If people just accepted it as is and get stuck up on it” shifts from past-form conditional to present-form “get”; “it could be unsatisfactory jobs” has a mismatch between “it” and the plural noun; and “I knew everything will be alright” would be more consistent as “would be.” Punctuation around the list and the final sentence could also be more controlled. Check agreement and tense consistency, especially in longer sentences.

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