Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-24
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)
Nowadays, in this fierce-competitive society, peoples have argued that it is best to accept a bad situtation such as low paying job or shortage of money in an economic downturn, while others contend that it is wise to adapt and improve in this situation. While accepting the bad situation and trying to improve it are not opposties, I believe true strength comes from acccepting the past and present condition while actively shaping your front path to a better future.
On one hand, acceptance often misunderstood as giving up, but it actually a position of power. It is a logical choice to stop fighting the negative situations or facts you cannot change. Fighting reality while inside a bad situation is exhausting our overall well being. When we learn to accept a bad situation, we stop blaming ourself or surrounding people. Furthermore, sturggling in this situation often come with negative emotions. Its spread panic, anger and resentment which could blind our sight. We need clam steady minds to make a smart and rational decision for our life.
On the other hand, once we accept where we are. We should actively finding and working toward a better future. If our bad situation come from lack of resources or opportunitiesm, we should acquire the skill
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of the argument. While you address both sides of the prompt and provide a clear personal opinion, the ideas are underdeveloped. For instance, the second body paragraph is cut off abruptly, leaving the argument incomplete. To improve, you must ensure that each point is fully supported with detailed explanations and relevant examples. Because the essay is only 211 words, the depth of analysis is insufficient to reach a higher band, as the task instructions were not fully satisfied in terms of length and comprehensive development.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' to signal shifts in your argument. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the abrupt ending of the text disrupts the overall flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding paragraph makes the structure feel incomplete. To improve, ensure that you include a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a summary conclusion to tie your arguments together effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'economic downturn', 'resentment', and 'rational decision'. However, there are several spelling errors ('situtation', 'opposties', 'acccepting', 'sturggling', 'opportunitiesm') and minor word choice issues ('front path' instead of 'future path'). These errors do not generally impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensure that your spelling is accurate, as frequent errors can distract the reader from your ideas.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('peoples have argued', 'situation come from') and missing articles or incorrect verb forms ('it actually a position', 'blaming ourself'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with sentence fragments like 'Once we accept where we are.' To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentences are complete. Increasing the variety of error-free complex structures will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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