Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 6.5)

Whilst many people think that accepting difficult circumstances such as unsatisfactory workplace or lack of money, is the best, I believe people should put effort into improving that, particularly because that way, it will create more opportunities for personal and career growth.

On the one hand, accepting bad situations can be better for some people because their financial limitations, resource constrains and low stress handling capability restrict them to changes. For example, one might continue to work in the same position as he doesn't want to lose a stable income source. Similarly, others may not have the resources to learn new skills to improve their monetary condition. Moreover, many people do not contain the mental strength to cope with the stress that comes with changes. Many fresh graduates, for instance, are reluctant to apply to large corporations because they think of themselves as less competitive and don't want to deal with the stress, and so they give up even before trying. Hence, gradually they try to adjust to the circumstances even when they are not satisfied with it.

However, people should work hard and face challenges to improve unsatisfactory situations rather than adjusting to it as it will create more opportunities for a better future and personal development. Unless a person tries to change his negative condition, he would never find out the gray areas that are causing problem. By improving those areas, one can become more confident and mentally strong. For example, employees should invest in professional courses that are high paying and take the risk to apply in large companies. There might be initial delays but perseverance will definitely make them successful in the future career. Likewise, a person struggling with overspending can mindfully observe his daily spending pattern to reduce unnecessary purchase. This way he can be more financially stable.

In conclusion, although accepting adverse situation can be justified in terms of financial limitation and resource constrains for some people, I strongly believe, they should put more emphasis on improving the condition because it will open more doors of opportunities for personal and career development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For example, the argument regarding financial limitations and the fear of stress provides a logical basis for the first perspective. The counter-argument regarding personal development and confidence is also well-supported with practical examples like professional courses. However, some points could be more deeply explored to reach a higher band, as the development occasionally feels slightly repetitive. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Likewise' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Nevertheless, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas with precision. The student uses relevant terms such as 'adverse situation', 'financial limitations', 'perseverance', and 'professional development'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'resource constrains' (should be 'constraints') and 'contain the mental strength' (should be 'possess' or 'have'). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, and the meaning is never obscured by these minor errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Unless a person tries to change his negative condition, he would never find out the gray areas that are causing problem.' However, there are persistent errors in grammar, such as 'unsatisfactory workplace' (needs an article), 'causing problem' (should be 'causing problems'), and 'adjust to the circumstances even when they are not satisfied with it' (pronoun agreement error). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication.

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

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