Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19

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 6.0)

People have different views about whether individuals should accept difficult situations or try to improve them. I believe that people should generally try to improve their circumstances, although accepting a difficult situation may sometimes be necessary due to temporary financial or personal difficulties.

On the one other hand some people believe that accepting a bad situation such as shortage of money or an unsatisfactory job is a practical decision. That is because sometimes the circumstances cannot be changed immediately.For example, if a person has to support their family and no one else has an income, they may have no choice but to remain in an unsatisfactory job temporarily. In this situation accepting the job can be a better solution for financial security and allow the person to meet their family’s basic needs. Therefore, acceptance can sometimes be a sensible short-term solution.

On the other hand if there are no circumstances of shortage of money then the best possible way is to try and improve rather staying in an unsatisfactory job. A good approach would be constantly upskilling yourself in the free time. For example learning new approaches or reading books for better knowledge. As a result they may be able to find a good job in near future or a satisfactory job.

In conclusion accepting a difficult situation can be practical when people have financial or family responsibilities. However, I believe that people should try to improve their circumstances whenever possible as this can create better opportunities and lead to a more satisfying life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of financial security as a justification for accepting a difficult job. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the second body paragraph could have been strengthened with a more concrete example or a deeper analysis of why self-improvement is the superior long-term strategy. While the position is consistent, the depth of argumentation is more characteristic of a Band 6.5 or 7.0 response, as it touches upon the points without fully exploring the implications of each.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some minor issues with flow and punctuation. For example, the phrase 'On the one other hand' contains a redundant word, and the transition between sentences in the second paragraph is slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated to reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific language like 'financial security', 'upskilling', and 'unsatisfactory job'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'no circumstances of shortage of money'. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'On the one other hand' (redundancy), 'in the free time' (missing possessive 'their'), and 'in near future' (missing article 'the'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are minor errors like the missing space after the period in 'immediately.For'. The majority of sentences are error-free, but the frequency of minor slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band for accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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