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)
It is an undeniable fact that people should try to improve there situations. In some situations, it is best to accept and move along with it. While for some other situation we should try to do our best to improve it. The following paragraph is going to highlight some reasons and examples.
To begin with, some situations like unsatisfactory job or shortage of money can be improved by looking for a different job which satisfies your needs and having a good income. Nowadays, money is a necessity to have a good life style and to provide a good life to your loved one, Without money it is very difficult to live, no food, no mode of transportation, no place to live and more. By improving your situation all these things can be avoided rather than just accepting it.
While on the other side of the coin, some situation cannot be improved or be better. It is best to just accept it and move on. For example, if a person is having a car which is in bad condition, it is the best thing to accept it and use it for some emergency situation.
Taking everything into consideration, i definetly belive it is necessery to move on in live to achieve your goals instead of regretting it and being sad. Life has its ups and downs, one must learn to face failier to facewe au
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument but fails to develop the ideas sufficiently, resulting in a brief essay that does not meet the minimum word count requirement. While you present a position, the supporting arguments are underdeveloped; for instance, the example of a car in bad condition is somewhat simplistic and does not fully explore the complexities of 'accepting' a difficult situation. Furthermore, the conclusion is incomplete and trails off, which prevents a clear, fully developed summary of your opinion. To improve, you should aim to expand your body paragraphs with more detailed reasoning and ensure your conclusion is fully articulated to meet the 250-word threshold.
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 somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'To begin with', 'While on the other side of the coin'). The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the final paragraph is fragmented, which disrupts the logical flow of the argument. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and paragraphs more naturally, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, complete concluding thought.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'good life style' and 'bad condition' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'there' instead of 'their', 'failier', and 'facewe au', which suggest a lack of attention to detail. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to personal development and decision-making, and ensure you proofread your work to eliminate simple spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'some situation cannot be improved'), incorrect word forms, and punctuation errors. The final sentence is incomplete and contains garbled text, which significantly impacts the clarity of the conclusion. While the meaning is generally understandable, the persistent errors in basic grammar and the lack of control in complex structures limit the score. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like articles and verb endings.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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