Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16
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 often argued that it is better to accept difficult circumstances like doing an unsatisfactory job and facing problems while other believe that it is important to do something to enhance their conditions.
On the one hand, some people do their jobs that they dislike because they have limited alternative. For instance, a person with unfavorable job still has to do their job because of financial problems, family depending on them and the household responsibilities they have on them. As a matter of fact, these people just face these conditions regardless of their own opinion. This can result into many harmful and detrimental impacts which can cause mental disruption, mental disposition and can have negative consequence on human brain .
On the other, some individuals believe that it is crucial to do something to improve their condition. Constantly accepting their unsatisfactory jobs can prevent them from achieving their potentials. It is often believed that person unhappy with their work can improve their condition by acquiring new skill, qualifications and maintaining work life balance. Taking such proactive measures can build confidence and better future opportunities.
In my view, acceptance is appropriate when circumstances cannot be changed immediately, but this attitude should not be permanent.
Overall, people should face these kind of circumstances when alternatives are limited. Nevertheless, people should strive to improve their situation while seeking better opportunities. These proactive measures can lead people to both financial and personal growth.
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 essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the main points are relevant, they are somewhat brief and lack detailed supporting examples. For instance, the discussion on 'mental disruption' is mentioned but not fully explored. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your arguments with more specific illustrations or deeper analysis to ensure the response is sufficiently developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other', and 'Overall' to signal transitions between ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of length limits the ability to demonstrate more complex linking techniques. Improving the variety of transition words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'detrimental impacts', 'proactive measures', and 'unfavorable'. However, there are some instances of awkward phrasing or repetitive word choices, such as the repeated use of 'condition' and 'mental'. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'mental disposition' in this context. To improve, focus on using more precise vocabulary and synonyms to avoid repetition and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'some people do their jobs that they dislike' (should be 'jobs they dislike') and 'result into' (should be 'result in'). Additionally, there are minor issues with articles and pluralization, such as 'a person with unfavorable job' and 'new skill'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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