Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27
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 5.0)
It is believed that rather than accepting unfavourable situations such as lack of money or unsuitable job , individuals should figure out ways to improve such situations. However, I believe in this statement as making improvements such as changing job or enhancing education would lead to good mental health and well being.
On the one hand, unsatisfied job and shortage of money can bring mental health problems in some individuals. Pressure to complete tasks, bullying and harassment can lower their confidence and make them prone to mental health issues.
Moreover, lack of money can make people financially unstable, where they are not able to fulfil their basic needs and can draw them to crimes and theft for their needs. For instance, many people in some countries are forced to live on streets, as they are not financially stable.
On the other hand, finding ways such as changing jobs and completing educat
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which severely limits the development of ideas. While the introduction presents a position, the essay is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence in the second body paragraph. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The discussion of the first view is present, but the second view is not developed, and the conclusion is entirely missing. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, balanced discussion of both perspectives followed by a clear, supported opinion, while meeting the minimum word count requirement to allow for sufficient idea expansion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'Moreover' to signal the structure. However, because the response is incomplete and lacks a conclusion, the overall progression of ideas is interrupted. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is truncated, which disrupts the logical flow. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of cohesive devices to link sentences and paragraphs more fluidly, ensuring the essay reaches a natural and logical conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'unfavourable situations' and 'financially unstable' are used correctly, but there is a lack of more sophisticated or academic vocabulary that would demonstrate a wider range. There are also minor errors, such as 'unsatisfied job' instead of 'unsatisfactory job' or 'job dissatisfaction'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic terminology related to the topic of employment and socio-economic challenges to enhance the quality of your expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as the missing article in 'changing job' (should be 'changing jobs' or 'a job') and the awkward phrasing 'I believe in this statement'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete nature of the text makes it difficult to assess the full range of your grammatical control. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without errors that might distract the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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