Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Many people believe that it is for the best to accept bad luck like unsatisfied job or unstable financial conditions however, others argue that one must try their best to improve such situations. While it is important to acknowledge the fact that one is going through tough times for mental wellness, in contrary I believe it is more crucial to bring action to win such tough battles.

Different people take difficulties in different ways. Likewise, acceptance to such difficulties can lead people be mentally ill due to stress, anxiety and constant overthinking. To illustrate, studies shows that nowadays with the increase of various world problems like poverty mental issues such as depression, panic attacks, maladaptive daydreaming have increased compared to data from 1900s. This is the reason why it is suggested to accept your current tough situation and let go of it to unburden yourself from such mental problems.

However, it is better to try and improve your situation by putting an effort and an action into solving these problems. Acceptance will bring mental peace but action implementation will bring you out of such bad luck such as unsatisfied jobs, low income levels etc. For instance, finding solution to difficult situation such as unsatisfactory jobs can be figuring what your current job lacks and how you can find such jobs in the market. Therefore, we can say that any harsh conditions can be changed into positive situation if one is willing to try and put an effort for it.

To conclude, whilst the belief of some people on accepting bad situation is true, putting in efforts to come out of such environments is even more crucial. I believe that hard work never goes to waste and hence solutions and actions will help those who are willing to enhance their current lives.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though the development is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument for acceptance focuses heavily on mental health, while the argument for action focuses on practical problem-solving. While the task is fully addressed, the supporting examples, such as the reference to 'data from 1900s', are vague and lack specific detail. To reach a higher band, the student should provide more nuanced examples and ensure that the distinction between the two viewpoints is more sharply defined through deeper analysis rather than just restating the core concepts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To illustrate', 'However', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition 'In contrary' is non-standard and slightly disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints, which helps the overall structure. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the essay would benefit from a more sophisticated range of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'unsatisfied job' (should be 'unsatisfactory' or 'unfulfilling') and 'bring action' (should be 'take action'). The student uses some topic-specific vocabulary like 'maladaptive daydreaming' and 'unburden', which shows an attempt to use less common items. However, the repetition of phrases like 'bad situation' and 'tough times' limits the lexical range. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'acceptance to such difficulties' (should be 'acceptance of'), 'studies shows' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'in contrary' (should be 'on the contrary'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The student attempts complex sentences, but they are often marred by minor inaccuracies. Improving control over articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.