Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12
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 5.0)
First, some people believe " that it is bestto accept a bad situation" because I think they have stressful of job or they are main cost of living in their family, so the an unsatisfactory or shortage of money are the popular problems of their life. They want to have a lot of money to expenditure of life is easier and more relaxed. Second, some people argue that it is better to try and improve such situation. I think they are clever's people because they can try and improve their difficult challenges of their life steeply and easy. They have the " good brain " to choose the clever work to do this super challenges of their life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 118 words. Consequently, the development of ideas is severely limited. While the essay attempts to address both sides of the prompt, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack specific examples or logical depth. The position is not clearly articulated throughout the response, and the conclusion is entirely missing. To improve, you must expand on your points with relevant examples and ensure you provide a clear, consistent opinion as requested by the prompt. The significant under-length is the primary factor for this score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'First' and 'Second' to signal structure, but the overall progression of ideas is weak. Paragraphing is present but ineffective due to the brevity of the text. The relationship between sentences is often unclear, and the lack of a concluding paragraph further disrupts the logical flow. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph develops a single, coherent idea that contributes to the overall argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'bad situation', 'good brain', and 'clever's people'. There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'main cost of living' instead of 'primary breadwinner' and 'expenditure of life' instead of 'living expenses'. These errors occasionally make the meaning difficult to follow. To improve, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to the topic of employment and financial management, and focus on correct word forms and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'they have stressful of job', 'the an unsatisfactory or shortage of money are the popular problems', and 'clever's people'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which is necessary for higher band scores. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles, before attempting more complex grammatical forms.
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.