Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Some people believe that accepting a bad situation is the best way to deal with problems such as an unsatisfactory job or financial difficulties. Others, however, argue that people should make an effort to improve their circumstances. This essay will discuss both views, and I believe that trying to improve a difficult situation is generally the better approach.

On the one hand, accepting an unpleasant situation can sometimes be a sensible decision. Not every problem can be solved immediately, and constantly worrying about circumstances that are beyond one's control can cause stress and frustration. For example, a person who is struggling financially may have limited opportunities to change their situation in the short term. In such cases, accepting the current circumstances while making gradual changes can help them remain mentally stable. Furthermore, people may have family responsibilities that prevent them from leaving an unsatisfactory job, even if they dislike it.

On the other hand, trying to improve a difficult situation can lead to better opportunities and a higher quality of life. If people simply accept their problems, they may remain in the same circumstances for many years. For instance, an employee who is unhappy with their job could develop new skills, gain additional qualifications, or apply for better positions. Similarly, someone experiencing financial difficulties could learn new skills, find additional sources of income, or reduce unnecessary spending. Although these actions require effort and patience, they can produce positive results in the long term.

In my opinion, people should not simply accept bad situations when they have realistic opportunities to improve them. However, acceptance can be useful temporarily when circumstances cannot be changed immediately. The best approach is therefore to accept what cannot be controlled while actively working towards a better situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task effectively. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the merits of acceptance and the benefits of proactive improvement—and provided a well-reasoned personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, particularly the distinction between temporary acceptance for mental stability and long-term proactive change. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion provides a balanced synthesis of the two views. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, concrete examples rather than general scenarios (e.g., mentioning a specific type of professional development or a common financial strategy).

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In my opinion'. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and referencing is precise. The essay is easy to follow, and the relationship between sentences is clearly established, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'mentally stable', 'limited opportunities', and 'proactive' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use less common items, and the word choice is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or idiomatic flair that would characterize the highest bands. To improve, try to incorporate more nuanced collocations or academic synonyms to elevate the tone further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If people simply accept...') and concessive clauses ('Although these actions require effort...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. The sentence structures are varied, and the writing is fluent. To achieve a higher score, ensure that you continue to experiment with more sophisticated syntactic structures, such as inversion or participle clauses, while maintaining this high level of accuracy.

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