Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-12

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 5.5)

"Life is unpredictable so live your life to the fullest" - is something we do not consider seriously. We are so busy in the race to succeed that we often forget to enjoy the litte things in life. Same is the situation with an unsatisfactory job or a situation of shortage of money. Some people believe it is best to accept these situation as bad while otheer argue against it stating that it is better to try and improve such situations.

It is true that one must accept his/her situation is bad when it comes down to shortage of money because without accepting one's current situation he/she cannot move on to solve that situation. In my opinion , only after one accepts his/her situation can they try to improve it for the better. For instance , when one is suffering due to lack of income , he/she can always join part-time jobs and save money where neccesary. Atleast then he or she is trying to improve the situation rather than giving up on life. Perhaps, a situation like this is interconnected to trying for the better and is not about just accepting and doing nothing about it.

The same cannot be said about unsatisfactory job because many a times, that person might be the sole earner of the family. When his or her entire family depends on their income , they ought to accept the bad situation and cannot do much about it . However, this situation is not equal for all workers. Sometimes one can quit the job they find unsatisfactory and seek for what they truly want to do in life. Unlike others, they might have the option to explore and live their life to the fullest because at the end of the day nothing can bring a person the happiness they want if they do not get inner peace of mind. Afterall, mental health is equally important in life. Thus, to conclude , I believe it is important never loss hope in any situation because there is always a way out .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both accepting difficult circumstances and trying to improve them, and your view that acceptance can be a first step towards action is present, especially in the paragraph about low income. The example of taking part-time work gives this point some relevance. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the job paragraph focuses mainly on family dependence and the possibility of quitting, without explaining clearly when accepting an unsatisfactory job is preferable or how someone might improve it. Your conclusion, “there is always a way out,” is also broader than the argument established. Develop each view with a clearer explanation and a specific supporting example, and state your position consistently across the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs broadly separate the discussion of money from that of employment. Linking expressions such as “For instance,” “However,” and “Thus, to conclude” help signal examples and transitions. Nevertheless, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from accepting a financial problem to taking action, then to “giving up on life,” without fully connecting these points. The job paragraph also shifts between accepting dependence, quitting, and mental health. Some references, including “this situation,” are not precise. Organise each paragraph around one main claim and use clearer links to show how each example supports it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of relevant expressions, including “sole earner,” “part-time jobs,” “inner peace of mind,” and “mental health,” which help communicate the topic. However, vocabulary control is uneven, and several spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable: “lit te” (written as “lit te” in the response as “lit te” is not intended; the text has “lit te”/“lit te”?) Wait. Need cite exact. Use “lit te” no. Text says litte. “neccesary,” “Atleast,” “Afterall,” and “loss hope.” Some phrases are also awkward or imprecise, such as “accept these situation as bad” and “seek for what they truly want to do.” These issues do not prevent understanding, but they reduce clarity and naturalness. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations for discussing employment and financial hardship; for example, say “accept a difficult situation” and “look for work that suits them.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses beginning “because” and “when,” and most of the argument remains understandable. However, errors recur in sentence construction and agreement. For example, “accept these situation” has a plural agreement problem, while “one must accept his/her situation is bad” needs a structure such as “accept that their situation is bad.” The sentence beginning “When his or her entire family depends on their income” also shifts between singular and plural reference. Punctuation around introductory phrases and spaces before commas and full stops are inconsistent. Practise accurate that-clauses, consistent pronoun reference, and sentence boundaries, then proofread for agreement and punctuation.

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