Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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)
In the world, many people think that when we got any bad time or any difficult situation,we should convince ourself to accept the reality.They think that when we face any type of problem like a financial or any job problem we should accept it.On the other side ,many people do not like to rely with the coming situation. They always try to create circumstances according to their own mind and work on it.They never accept bad situation and always try to improve themselves.
Firstly,if we talk about the concept of accepting the bad situation ,it would be better for those people, who has limited mindset.During and bad period of time.Many people think that they are not able to handle and solve the problem .So they try to convince themselves to stop at the current moment.They try to stop at a bad time because their mindset do not allow them to work more.so they convince themselves to accept the harsh reality.
On the other side,some people do not stop at a bad point and always try to work hard and do consistent hardwork to improve their life. These people never accept the bad time and work hard as much as possible.Because their mindsert never allow them to stop at a bad moment .So they do not accept bad reality of life and always try to improve themselves.
In my opinion,this situation is totally dependent on personal preferance.If you want to accept the bad reality of life because you think you cannot do more.you can stop at moment and you can accept the reality.but if you like to achiever your goals and never stops at a bad moment and you think that you can do it,you should work hard to not accept the reality and work on yourself to achieve the goal and live according to your own mindset.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, satisfying the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments are repetitive, relying on phrases like 'limited mindset' or 'work hard' without providing concrete examples or deeper analysis of why one might choose to accept a situation versus changing it. The conclusion is somewhat vague and does not fully synthesize the points discussed. To reach a higher band, you need to provide specific, real-world examples (e.g., career advancement strategies or financial planning) to support your claims rather than repeating general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'During and bad period of time' is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. Referencing is often unclear, and the repetition of phrases like 'on the other side' and 'accept the reality' makes the writing feel circular. While there is a logical progression from the introduction to the conclusion, the lack of varied linking words and the repetitive nature of the sentences hinder the overall cohesion of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic terms like 'bad situation', 'bad time', 'bad reality', and 'work hard'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations. For example, 'rely with the coming situation' is an incorrect collocation. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated synonyms and precise vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'resilience', 'proactive', 'circumstances', or 'adversity'. The current range is sufficient for basic communication but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in world'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'their mindset do not allow'), and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several instances of missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of grammatical slips prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small errors would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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