Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
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)
Currently the world is divided into two beliefs, some say it is good to accept a bad situation. However, others are convinced thriving during such a situation is better which will improve circumstances. Let us examine both beliefs before reaching a concrete decision.
A person does not have any control over the situation coming over to them, it can be a bad situation, like unemployment, financial condition or relationship situation. It is only our part to accept such a situation and carry on with life. Accepting a bad situation will provide mental stability to work or live with it and it will pass one day. We should focus on things that matter most and give happiness at that moment.
It is worth noting a bad situation will pass eventually, nothing is permanent but it doesn’t mean not doing anything to improve that situation. Ups and downs are part of life just sitting and accepting a bad situation won’t help at all, it is ‘trying to make the situation better’ that makes situation disappear. A will to make current situation better in future. Giving everything you got to improve a bad situation matters most.
In my opinion, a bad situation will not disappear until a person himself tries and improve such situation.
In conclusion, good and bad situations are part of life and facing them head on to improve such situation will make a drastic change. Just accepting a bad situation is first half of the solution, next half is to fight the situation with all they got in them. Trying for best outcome is the only thing on a person’s hand so When life gives you lemons make lemonade out of them.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that accepting a situation provides 'mental stability,' this point is not fully explored with concrete examples or deeper reasoning. Similarly, the argument for improving situations is repetitive, relying on general statements rather than specific illustrations. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph provides a distinct, well-supported argument. The conclusion is clear, but the overall depth of the essay remains at a mid-level because the arguments are stated rather than thoroughly developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'However,' 'It is worth noting,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as 'A will to make current situation better in future,' which lacks a clear connection to the preceding sentence. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'bad situation' repeatedly throughout the text, which limits the sophistication of your writing. While you attempt some idiomatic language at the end ('when life gives you lemons'), it feels slightly out of place in an academic essay. To improve, focus on using more varied synonyms for 'bad situation' (e.g., 'adversity,' 'challenging circumstances') and more precise verbs to describe the process of overcoming obstacles.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('a person does not have any control over the situation coming over to them') and issues with subject-verb agreement or word order ('the first half of the solution, next half is to fight'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence boundary punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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