Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
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)
In today's world, many people face tough times in their life such as financial problem, an unsatisfactory job, and so on. Some people argue that it is best to accept a bad situation, while others believe that it is better to try and improve such situations. In my opinion, an individual should always try to improve such situation, but at the same time they should not be too obsessed with improving the situations, ignoring the negative consequences.
On the one hand, accepting a bad situation may reduce the stress of an individual. This is because if people find ways to improve a condition, they may experience stress during that period. For example, if an individual having a lower salary tries to earn a higher salary, they may take tension to find ways to improve it. Additionally, it may help people to remain happy in their life. If a person becomes greedy towards improving their lifestyle, they may always think of different ways to achieve it. Due to this they will be unable to enjoy their life .
On the other hand, critics argue that instead of accepting, trying and improving such situations helps an individual to become mentally and financially stable. This is because if a person is dissatisfied with a job or facing financial crisis, may affect their mental and financial stability. For instance, if an individual is unable to afford a treatment for a particular disease, they may become mentally unstable and may increase a risk to cause serious illness. Furthermore, improving a situation like a dissatisfied job helps to increase the productivity at work. If a person is not working with the full dedication, it may affect the productivity of an employee, which in turn affect the company.
In conclusion,accepting a bad situation may reduce stress and allow an individual to enjoy their life. However, improving such conditions helps a person to remain mentally and financially stable and increases the productivity at work. A balanced approach works best where an individual should try to improve a situation, but also consider the negative aspects of them such as stress, unhappier life and so on.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
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 position is consistent throughout, and the ideas are generally well-developed. However, some arguments are slightly repetitive or lack depth; for instance, the explanation of why improving a situation might cause stress could be more nuanced. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the two views while maintaining the student's balanced stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more specific examples rather than general statements about 'mental stability' or 'productivity'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there is occasional awkwardness in the flow of ideas, such as the transition between the discussion of salary and the concept of greed. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at using less common vocabulary, such as 'obsessed' and 'dissatisfied', but the range is somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly imprecise or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'situation' and 'improve'. Collocations are mostly natural, though phrases like 'take tension' are non-standard and should be replaced with more idiomatic alternatives like 'experience stress' or 'feel pressured'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('a financial problem', 'the productivity') and subject-verb agreement issues ('which in turn affect' should be 'affects'). The use of complex sentences is generally successful, but the frequency of these small errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would significantly improve the overall quality of the writing.
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