Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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)

Some people argue that it is better to accept difficult circumstance such as bad job or financial problem, while other believe that individual should actively try to change the situation.

Those who support accepting a bad situation often do so because they wanted to avoid stress and uncertainly. For example, a person with unsatisfactory job might choose to stay because changings jobs , involves risks, interviews and possible rejection. Similarly, people facing a short of money may feel that they have no choose and that accepting their situation will help them stay calm. Moreover, some people believe that not every problem can be solved, and trying to fight against reality can lead to frustration and disappointment.

However, I believed that trying to improve a bad situation is a better approach. Accepting problem permanently can lead to unhappiness and lack of progress. If someone stay in a job and they hate, their motivation and mental health may suffer overtime. Instead they look for a new opportunities, learn new skills and ask for a promotion. Like wise, a person is struggling for a money could reduce expenses, take a second job or learn financial management. For instant, Many successful person started with financial difficulties but improve their lives by taking their action instead of giving up.

In conclusion, while accepting a bad conditions might seems easier, I am the opinion of that people should make efforts to change it. Some people believe that not every problem can be solved and trying to fight against reality.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides logical reasons for accepting a situation, the second paragraph, which supports taking action, could be more thoroughly extended with specific, concrete examples rather than general statements. The conclusion is incomplete, as the final sentence is a fragmented repetition of an earlier point rather than a synthesis of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that all arguments are fully developed and that the conclusion provides a cohesive summary of the main points discussed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Similarly', and 'In conclusion' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final sentence of the conclusion, which lacks a logical connection to the preceding text. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal structure of the final paragraph is weak due to the incomplete sentence at the end, which disrupts the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'actively', 'frustration', and 'financial management'. However, there are several word-choice errors and inaccuracies, such as 'short of money' instead of 'shortage of money', 'no choose' instead of 'no choice', and 'For instant' instead of 'For instance'. These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise control over collocations and word forms to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('other believe', 'individual should'), article misuse ('a bad job'), and tense inconsistencies ('I believed' instead of 'I believe'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent verb tenses throughout the essay.

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