Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30
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)
Nowdays, many people belive that we should accept a bad situation even if it is an unsatisfactory job or financial contraints. while some argue that we should work hard to overcome on these challenges.
Individuals who support the first view believe that leaving an unsatisfactory job and struggling for money without any backup plan can lead to not only depression but also unemployment. This is because finding new opportunities can take a long time, and people may face financial difficulties during this period. As a result, accepting a bad situation for some time can provide financial stability until a better opportunity is available.For example, tech employees not switch companies oftenly even if the salary is higher than previous becuase they prefer healthy environment over the money.
On the other hand, those who have the opposing view argue that individuals should invest in themselves to upskill and relocate themselves. This is because people can learn trending technologies and find better job opportunities in a new city. As a result, individuals can attract new opportunities by networking with people and developing their own products for passive income. Therefore, improving their skills and making changes in their lives can help them overcome difficult situations and achieve a better future.
For instance, people in rural areas earning millions thorugh freelancing platforms becuase they upskills themselves instead of relying on fixed salary.
Although both views have merit but i believe that individuals should spend money and time to upskill themselves. The main reason is that every day we have new technolgoy in market, therefore it is the only way to standout in the competitive environment fora better future with passive icome.
In conclusion, both views raise valid points, However i believe that people should learn new technology and become familiar with them as soon as possible becuase nowadays companies value and pay high to the person who has pratical experience with modern skills.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the trade-off between financial stability and personal growth. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example regarding tech employees is a bit vague and could be better linked to the argument. The conclusion reinforces the position well, but the overall depth of analysis is more characteristic of a Band 6.0, as some points are stated rather than fully explored with nuanced reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, there are minor issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the sentence fragment in the introduction ('while some argue...') and the slightly awkward transition between the two main body paragraphs. Paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between ideas could be smoother to reach a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'financial constraints', 'upskill', and 'passive income'. However, there are several spelling errors ('Nowdays', 'belive', 'becuase', 'thorugh', 'technolgoy', 'pratical') and some awkward collocations ('tech employees not switch companies oftenly'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the message. A wider range of precise vocabulary would be needed for a higher score.
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, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('people... earning millions thorugh'), missing articles, and incorrect verb forms ('they upskills themselves'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization after periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over more complex structures, placing the performance firmly in the Band 6.0 range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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