Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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)

The idea of whether people should give up after failure or try harder is a thing of great concern. Some people trust that accepting a bad experience, such as unsatisfactory work and low cash inflow is very ok while others debate that it is better to try and work on such situations. I will first focus on arguments in favour of this before addressing those against. Inspite of the arguments, it is my firm opinion that people try as much as they can to better their lives.

It is important to understand that good cash inflow restores happiness and shortage of it wears it down. Therefore, people should not be comfortable in their misery, instead they should put in more effort to become better or create better work environments. For instance, a man who is stagnant and has refused to improve will forever remain unhappy, sad and unfulfilled as he would always be constantly reminded of his condition by his enemies or counterparts.

However, accepting such bad conditions can be interpreted as being contented which is a virtue most people lack. According to some people, contentment gives no room for greed and being greedy can lead to societal crimes such as theft. Hence, the reason some individuals think that it is better to accept their conditions whichever way it is.

In summary, there are varying opinions as to whether people should accept their bad experiences or try to make improvements. Improving on bad situations can lighten up the mood although accepting such can prevent greed or social crimes. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that people should not get comfortable after a bad experience so as to remain happy souls.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'contentment' is introduced but not fully explored in terms of its long-term impact on personal growth. The points made about 'cash inflow' are repetitive and lack depth. To achieve a higher band, you should provide more specific, real-world examples or nuanced reasoning to support your claims. While the task is addressed, the supporting arguments remain at a somewhat superficial level, which prevents a more comprehensive discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Therefore', and 'In summary' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated. Some transitions feel abrupt, and the relationship between ideas could be strengthened by using a wider range of linking words and better referencing to avoid repetitive sentence structures. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, but the cohesion lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'low cash inflow' and 'very ok' are informal or awkward in an academic context. You rely on simple descriptors like 'unhappy, sad and unfulfilled', which are somewhat redundant. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding informal phrasing. While the meaning is always clear, the lack of sophisticated or less common vocabulary limits your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally understandable, there are several errors in word order and phrasing, such as 'The idea of whether people should give up... is a thing of great concern' and 'whichever way it is'. Punctuation is generally accurate, but some sentence constructions are slightly unnatural. You have attempted complex sentences, but they often lack the polish required for higher bands. Focusing on sentence variety and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy and range.

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

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