Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06
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)
On the fence of the debate, I agree with the people who have a belief of trying and improving the situations rather than giving up. Some individuals have believe thath it is a better option to accept the situation although it is bad like an unsatisfied job.
The situation can be improved if tried hard and can be even worse if does not try to improve it and just accept it unhappily, for example an individal wants to become a bike rider and roam around the world but his parents forces him to do a normal job and he has no option just accepting it unhappily but after some time just get spoiled doing that job but did not tried to convince his parents for his dream, and this is situation where most of the people just accept the situation and do not try to improve it.
An individual who tires to achieve success have to sacrifice something for example a graphic engenieer wants to become an youtuber but do not have much time for the videos so he quits his job and became a full time youtube and achieved success. This indicates that success asks for sacrifice.
In conclusion this is upto an individual that either he wants to live a normal life or do something special either by sacrificing something or going through a tough time, but this will lead to a successful and a brith future and also provides the motivation to the people to just stop living a normal life and d something amazing.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 limited. The examples provided, such as the bike rider and the graphic engineer, are somewhat simplistic and lack the depth required for a higher band. The argument remains superficial, and the connection between the examples and the broader philosophical debate is not fully articulated. To improve, you should focus on expanding your reasoning with more sophisticated analysis rather than just providing brief anecdotes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'On the fence of the debate' is non-standard and awkward. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and the progression of ideas between sentences is occasionally disjointed. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary range is limited and often repetitive. There are several spelling errors, such as 'engenieer', 'youtuber', and 'brith' (likely meant 'bright'), which hinder the professional tone of the essay. The word choices are basic, and there is a lack of precision in expressing complex ideas. To achieve a higher score, you should work on using a wider range of vocabulary, including collocations and less common lexical items, while ensuring that your spelling and word formation are accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Some individuals have believe', 'success asks for sacrifice'), tense consistency, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. You need to focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb forms, and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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