Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20

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)

So many people think that it is best to accept a bad condition, such as a low job satisfaction or poverty. Others believe that it is better to improve our living standards. The former believes it is more appropriate to stay in an unsatisfactory job because of the fear of not getting a better career opportunity. I am of the opinion that we should always aim to improve ourselves because we might end up with regrets in the future .

On the one hand, so many people think it is better to stay in a mediocre position because of the fear of failure, they are usually scared that they won’t succeed or might not get a better situation than the one they are currently in. For example, Many men in their 40s are scared to leave their current unfavorable work environment because they feel like the outside world might not favour them and that the younger generation are taking over, and if they fail they might not be able to take care of themselves and their families. So,it is a lot easier for them to stay in the situation they are familiar with.

On the other hand, I believe people should aim for the stars, regardless of if it doesn’t work out. So many times people sit around in situations they don’t like and end up regretting in the long run, they see other people that tried what they wanted and will give them so much regret when they are older . For instance, A young man who decides to pursue his dreams and start his own business will be grateful that he tried , he might experience a few ups and downs but in the future he will be glad that he decided to try something different. And also trying might just be what will transform such person and take him out of poverty.

In conclusion, people are scared to try something new because of the fear of not succeeding but I think everyone should have the confidence to chase their goals and actualize it to the fullest and this might help them escape poverty.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the fear of failure for those who stay in bad situations, the explanation remains a bit repetitive. The second body paragraph introduces the idea of 'aiming for the stars' but lacks specific, well-developed examples beyond a brief mention of a young entrepreneur. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning or concrete illustrations. The conclusion effectively summarizes your position, but the overall depth of the argument could be improved by exploring the potential negative consequences of change more critically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive (e.g., the frequent use of 'so many people'). Referencing is generally clear, but some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the fear of failure and the example of men in their 40s. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'unsatisfactory,' 'mediocre,' and 'actualize.' However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the reliance on phrases like 'so many people' and 'bad situation.' There are also some minor collocation issues, such as 'low job satisfaction' (which is grammatically awkward; 'low job satisfaction' is a state, not a condition you 'accept' in the same way as a 'bad job'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the same basic descriptors throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as comma splices ('...fear of failure, they are usually scared...') and issues with subject-verb agreement ('the younger generation are taking over'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas (e.g., 'So,it' and 'tried ,'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence boundary control and proofreading for punctuation errors will help improve your accuracy.

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