Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The topic of dealing with unpleasant situations has sparked considerable debate recently. While some individuals are convinced the best way to face problems is to accept them, others argue that taking action in order to try and solve the problem is essential. This essay will examine both views, yet my firm conviction is that improving the situation is preferable.

On the one hand, accepting the unpleasant circumstances can be beneficial. When a person acknowledges the presence of the problem, they experience less stress. Accepting the problem exepmts them from having to devote mental effort to mitigating it. Therefore, such people might report better mental health, leading to even lower anxiety rates in the future, as medical costs for mental health services are high.

On the other hand, people who advocate for tackling hardships seem to be more mature. The long-term outcomes of such an approach prove to be more satisfactory. Giving a chance to a risky move provides one with an opportunity to enhance their situation. For instance, an engineer who is not satisfied with their current salary may take on the risk of resigning and applying for a different job. Although they might stumble upon such problems as a lack of social support for the unemployed or uncertainty about the future, their chances of actually securing a better job are significantly higher compared with the chances of the same engineer who decides to stay at their despised workplace. This implies that the individuals who take action in unpleasant environments instead of accepting the problems achieve success more frequently.

That said, I firmly believe that the upsides of solving one's problems outweigh the advatanges of accepting the situation as it is. While it may seem that not dealing with a problem leads to lower stress levels, trying to find a solution offers a person a chance to turn their life around and results in stability and prosperity in the long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the example of the engineer, which effectively illustrates the benefits of taking action. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the argument regarding the 'acceptance' side could be slightly more nuanced, as it currently focuses heavily on stress reduction. However, the development is sufficient, and the response meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'That said' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some transitions could be even more sophisticated to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and precise, with some good collocations such as 'considerable debate', 'mitigating it', and 'tackling hardships'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'exepmts' and 'advatanges', which are likely slips but slightly detract from the overall polish. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly. To improve, the student could incorporate more idiomatic or less common lexical items to demonstrate greater flexibility and precision in academic writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is good control over complex structures, such as the conditional-like construction in the third paragraph: 'Although they might stumble upon... their chances... are significantly higher'. Punctuation is generally correct. While the grammar is strong, the occasional minor error prevents it from being considered fully error-free, which is expected at this level. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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