Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22

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)

There is a select side of personnel, that believe hardships should be accept while others favor harnessing an improvement in those situations.

Those who favor acceptance of the bad situation tend to navigate life with an outlook that delves into the problem in a non methodic way, while those who try to solve those situations tend to follow a pragmatic approach to issues and situations.

I tend to believe in the pragmatic approach of solving the worse and getting out of the muddy waters through methodical and pragmatic approach.

Troubled times make strong men and those who accept these troubled times tend to navigate life sulking through it and not actually fixing their fate. Fate is something that lies in the hand of the individual, and that is the only key to success.

While those who view every problem as a challenge that they have to solve, tend to succeed in life while those who accept their fate stay sulking in their acceptance.

In conclusion, it is best to try improve your situation than to actually accept and it and hope it passes away, although one can argue that those who accept their fate are more content in their lives than those who move from one challenge in life to another. I would still agree with improving on ones dire situation and finding out ways and methods that can actually give you a more satisfactory life, than to accept the issues in your life and not do anything towards making it better.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay discusses both views as required and presents a clear opinion. However, the response could benefit from more concrete examples to support arguments. Claims such as 'troubled times make strong men' lack detailed illustration, which weakens the overall argument. Furthermore, the conclusion presents some ambiguity, indicating some confusion rather than strong conviction. This impacts clarity in answering the prompt fully. Overall, the task achievement is reasonable but could be more comprehensive and illustrative.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The coherence and cohesion of the writing are somewhat lacking. Ideas are presented but lack sufficient linking phrases, making transitions feel abrupt. For instance, "Those who favor acceptance..." does not transition smoothly from the previous point. Additionally, some sentences feel convoluted, such as "fate is something that lies in the hand of the individual." Clearer sentence structures and better use of cohesive devices could enhance readability and logical flow. The organization of the essay needs more refinement to improve coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used demonstrates a good range, with some effective word choices such as "pragmatic approach". However, there are instances of awkward phrasing such as "select side of personnel" and "methodical and pragmatic approach". Additionally, words like "sulking" may not convey academic tone effectively. More varied vocabulary is necessary to enhance the overall sophistication and precision of language, particularly in discussing complex ideas. Overall, lexical resource is adequate but not fully developed.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammatical range and accuracy are below expectations for a higher band score. Several sentences are overly complex or poorly structured, leading to confusion, as seen in repetitive phrases, e.g., “methodical and pragmatic approach” and awkward constructions like “which they have to solve”. There are also instances of incorrect tense usage, and punctuation errors that affect clarity. Overall, while the basic grammatical structures are present, greater accuracy and a wider range are needed for a higher score in this criterion.

Overall feedback

Your essay presents a clear opinion and attempts to address both aspects of the question, which is commendable. However, incorporating more detailed examples would strengthen your arguments significantly, particularly in the discussion of acceptance versus improvement. Additionally, clarity in your writing will be enhanced by simplifying some of your complex sentences and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas. Pay attention to grammatical accuracy and the forms of expressions to elevate your lexical resource. Aim for greater variety and precision in your word choice.

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

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