Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14
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)
With the fast paced world, people are tackling problems which were unknown a few years ago. This essay will discuss both facets of the problem that whether a person should accept a bad situation or not before concurring with the idea that why it is better to try and improve your condition.
With the advancement in technology, people have become resilient and better in problem solving. Our creative thinking helps us to face and tackle any situation. For example, if someone is facing problems in the shortage of money, he can use his creative mind to find a job or to build a small business. With the help of technology, it has become a lot easy for anyone to find a job while staying at home.
On the other hand, some people might argue that it is better to accept a bad condition. They are right to some extent. For instance, if someone is not comfortable in doing a job but he has to do it for the sake of living. Then, sometimes it is better to make some compromises rather than being an unemployed.
From my perspective, people can improve their conditions by using technology. Although some may face difficulties in the beginning but it is much better to face them than to stay in an unhealthy environment. Compromising yourself to a condition where you don't feel happy and relaxed will also create problems in your other areas of life.
Therefore, if necessary people may compromise for a short term but they should try to improve themselves. Improving yourself will make you prepare for the future problems.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that technology helps with problem-solving, the explanation is quite brief and lacks depth. The example regarding job dissatisfaction is relevant but could be expanded to better illustrate the long-term consequences of accepting a bad situation. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed reasoning or specific, illustrative examples that fully explore the implications of the arguments presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore' to link ideas. However, the flow between some sentences feels a bit mechanical, and the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure would benefit from more sophisticated linking words to improve the logical progression of your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'resilient', 'unsatisfactory', and 'compromises'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'tackling problems which were unknown' and 'compromising yourself to a condition'. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing like 'improve your condition' or 'improve yourself'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the problem that whether a person should accept' (unnecessary 'that'), 'a lot easy' (should be 'a lot easier'), and 'rather than being an unemployed' (should be 'rather than being unemployed'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage issues throughout. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences would help improve your score in this criterion.
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.