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 their time 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 regarding the latter point of view in the forthcoming paragraphs with a logical conclusion.
To commence with, there are several reasons for people living in a bad situation or even an unsatisfactory job. Firstly, it helps to reduce stress and anxiety. To explain it, when people accept the bad situation, they never think about it, so stress may be reduced. For example, people accept their situation, then they will focus on goals that they want to achieve in life. Secondly, it helps to learn stability. To clarify it, people will accept the situation because they think that leaving the job may increase the problems, such as financial problems, so they work harder to get rid of a bad situation. As a result, people accept a bad situation.
However, there are also several points regarding the latter point of view. First and foremost, it helps in personal growth. To clarify it, when someone tries to overcome a bad situation, it helps to increase personal growth, such as developing problem-solving skills. Moreover, it helps us to improve the quality of life. To clarify it, many people overcome the situation and start a new business, which helps to increase their living standard.
In conclusion, there are several points regarding the former point of view, such as reducing stress and anxiety. Yet, according to me, the benefits of the latter point of view can never be neglected at any cost.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument that accepting a bad situation reduces stress is not fully explained or supported with a convincing example; it remains a general assertion. Similarly, the points regarding personal growth are brief. To reach a higher band, you need to extend your arguments with more specific, illustrative examples or deeper analysis. The conclusion is also quite abrupt and does not effectively summarise the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'First and foremost' to link your points. However, some of the transitions feel mechanical and repetitive, particularly the 'To explain it' and 'To clarify it' structures used in every paragraph. This makes the flow feel somewhat formulaic. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and use more sophisticated referencing to connect sentences more naturally rather than relying on a rigid template.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'bad situation', 'good', and 'problems' repeatedly. While you attempt some topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'job satisfaction' and 'personal growth', the overall lexical range is limited. There is little evidence of less common collocations or idiomatic expressions. To improve, focus on using more precise synonyms and academic collocations to express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are recurring grammatical issues, such as 'there are several reasons for people living in a bad situation' (which is slightly awkward) and 'according to me' (which is not standard academic phrasing). There are also some minor errors in article usage and sentence construction. To achieve a higher score, aim for a wider variety of complex structures and ensure that your grammar is more consistently accurate, particularly in your use of prepositions and idiomatic expressions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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