Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10
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)
Many people have the opinion to accept the situation and don’t try to change it for example continue the job which is more stressful for them and don’t have too much money ,while other have different opinion to always do struggle to improve the condition . In this paragraph we will put light on the both of the agreement.
A group of people have this mindset to just work at workplace which create more stress on their self because they don’t have any other options because some time people face allot of problem in their life so they don’t want take a chance . For example some individuals belong to poor family and they move to city and some time their family also against their decision . So they are not support them . So they think that if they leave this job and not find another one so it’s difficult for them to survive in the world because no body can come to help them.
On the other hand a large number of individual have this mindset that people should take the challenge and always try for the best . They think that if someone accept or compromise with the situation it create their life more difficult. They think changes are good for human life. There are allot of examples where people think out of the box they achieve big in their life . Allot of big celebrities and big figures in this world are the good example where they just told people ,how they always take the risk and find success.
As we discussed both of the arguments I genuinely believe that people should take initiative to change their life and always try to improve their life because it create more opportunities and happiness in person life .
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 views and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The arguments regarding why people accept bad situations are repetitive, focusing mainly on fear of unemployment without exploring other psychological or social factors. Similarly, the argument for improving situations relies on vague references to 'big celebrities' rather than concrete, well-explained examples. While the task is addressed, the supporting points lack depth and analytical rigor, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a distinct, well-reasoned point supported by a specific, illustrative example.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'they think' or 'some time'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to follow the logical flow between sentences. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother, more cohesive argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There is a reliance on basic, repetitive language, such as 'big', 'good', and 'people'. Some word choices are imprecise or non-standard, such as 'put light on' instead of 'shed light on' and 'do struggle' instead of 'strive'. Spelling errors like 'allot' (for 'a lot') occur frequently. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more sophisticated synonyms for common words. Using a more academic tone and avoiding informal phrasing will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'other have different opinion'), missing articles, and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'they are not support them'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors occasionally impede the flow of reading. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are used consistently. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and pluralisation will also help.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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