Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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)

It is undeniable that job satisfaction is important for people because they spend most of time in working . In this regard Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. While other people think it is better to try and improve such situations. This essay will outline not only both perspectives but also my opinion for regarding the latter point of view in forthcoming fragment with logical conclusion .

To commence with there are several reason for people live in bad situation or even unsatisfactory job . Firstly it help to reduce stress and anxiety . To explain it that when people accept the bad situation so thy never think about it so stress may be reduce. . for example people accept their situation then they will focus on goals as they want to achieve in life . Secondly it help to learn stability .To clarify it that people will accept the situation because they think that they leave the job may increase the problems such as financial problem so they do more hard to get rid from a bad situation . As a result people accept a bad situation .

However there are also several point of latter point of view .First and foremost are it help in personal growth . To clarify it that someone try to overcome a bad situation which helps to increase the personal s growth such as developed the problem solving skills.Moreover it help us to improve the quality of life . To clarify it that many people overcome the situation start new business which help to become increase the living standard .

In conclusion there are several point in regarding the former point of view such as reduce stress and anxiety . Yet according to me benefits of latter point of view can never be neglected at any cost .

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments provided, such as 'reducing stress' by accepting a bad situation, are somewhat contradictory and lack depth. The explanation for why one should improve a situation is also quite brief and relies on vague generalizations. To achieve a higher band, you need to provide more concrete examples and expand on your reasoning to fully support your position. The structure is present, but the content remains at a surface level throughout the essay.

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 often mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'To clarify it that' and 'To explain it that'. The transition between ideas is often abrupt, and the logical flow within paragraphs is hindered by awkward phrasing. While there is a clear attempt to use linking words, they are not always used effectively to create a smooth progression of ideas. Improving the variety and precision of your cohesive devices will significantly enhance the readability of your work.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'bad situation' and 'unsatisfactory job' throughout the text. There are also issues with word formation and collocation, such as 'do more hard' instead of 'work harder' and 'get rid from' instead of 'get out of'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of a wider range of vocabulary and the presence of errors in word choice prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a high frequency of grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('it help to reduce'), missing articles, and awkward sentence structures ('as they want to achieve in life'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often marred by errors that occasionally make the meaning difficult to follow. To improve, you need to focus on basic sentence construction, correct verb forms, and consistent punctuation. Reducing the number of errors in simple sentences should be your priority before attempting more complex structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.