Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Most of the humans believe that it is convenient to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or storage of money. While some others argue that it is better to try and improve such difficulties. I will discuss both views and give my own opinion.
On the one hand, it is very difficult for people to servive in low budget because they have the responsibilities of their families. For instance, a person who have less salary can not afford a good education for their children and he can not give his family a better life. This thing make a man uncomfortable and he has depression and anxiety. These people also can not change their jobs because they have no idea when he will find the new job .
On the other hand, some people try to change their lives give their best. They try to solve every problem in any situation. For instance, a person who is unhappy with his job can learn new skills , gain qualifications and apply for better positions. In this way they try to find out the solution of the problems that they are actually facing. These people have positive mind and they always try to find out every problem’s solution. If a person want to live a happy life he need to always try to solve the situation.
In conclusion, although some times it is necessary to accept bad situations, I think people should always try their best to find the solution of every problem with a peaceful and determinative mind and proper planning that bad situations and become in life but always be hopeful and find the solution.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| 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 somewhat limited. The first body paragraph focuses on the difficulties of low income rather than explicitly explaining why one might choose to 'accept' a bad situation as a strategy. The second paragraph is more focused, but the arguments remain somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that the reasons for 'accepting' a situation are clearly articulated—perhaps by discussing the value of stability or the lack of alternatives—rather than just describing the negative consequences of poverty. The conclusion is a bit disjointed and lacks a clear summary of the main points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal the shift between viewpoints. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition between the idea of 'low budget' and 'education' in the first paragraph is slightly abrupt. Additionally, some sentences are repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'these people' to start sentences. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'storage of money' (instead of 'shortage') and 'servive' (spelling error for 'survive'). Phrases like 'this thing make a man uncomfortable' are quite informal and imprecise. To improve, you should focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology. For example, instead of 'try to change their lives', you could use 'strive for self-improvement' or 'proactively seek advancement'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more topic-specific terms would significantly boost your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'a person who have' (should be 'has') and 'if a person want' (should be 'wants'). There are also issues with article usage and pronoun consistency, such as switching between 'they' and 'he' when referring to a singular 'person'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency would be a highly effective way to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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