Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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)

In the contemporary era, societal opinions often diverge on whether one should just accept a bad situation like an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money or one should try his best to improve such scenarios, leading to a polarized discourse. Different people have their distinct mindset. This essay will delve into both perspectives before presenting my personal stance.

To commence with the first notion, there are many things to be shared against it. First and foremost, it highlights the loser mindset of a person. As a result, you should never be just okay with such situations that limit your potential. Secondly, keep doing such a work or accepting such situations might cause psychological stress which could potentially lead to disorders like anxiety or depression etc. Consequently, the mental health will aslo deteriorate gradually.

Shifting towards the second school of thought, it enhances the hustle mindset where a person can change the bad circumstances by working and giving their best to cope with issues like these. Hence, people like these eventually find a way out and enjoy good times. Moreover, it is also beneficial not only for the individual but for people associated with him as well, as this will lead to a prosperous environment.

Having discussed the arguments and counter arguments, I would like to infer that keep trying to make situation better, reflects the winning mindset, which I believe, should be promoted. To justify my state of mind, there is an instance from my personal life. In July 2022, I lost all my savings in an investment. This was a serious shock for me and my family. But I didn't quit, instead I worked day and night from start, and eventually raised amount equal to which I lost, only in 7 months. Then I reinvested the same money, and eventually my business has grown now to 3 countries today.

To recaptulate, I personally feel that not giving up anyways, and always trying to make yurself better is the best choice always.

AI examiner evaluation

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 against accepting a bad situation relies on the term 'loser mindset,' which is informal and lacks analytical depth. While the personal example provided in the conclusion is relevant and supports the position well, the overall discussion of the 'accepting' viewpoint is quite brief and could have been expanded with more nuanced reasoning regarding why some might choose to accept their circumstances (e.g., stability or lack of alternatives). The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of exploration is limited, keeping this in the 6.0 range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Secondly,' 'Moreover,' and 'To recapitulate' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the use of 'such a work' and 'people like these' is slightly repetitive. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a 6.5 or 7.0 band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. The student relies on informal or repetitive phrasing such as 'loser mindset,' 'hustle mindset,' and 'good times.' While the meaning is always clear, there is a lack of precise, academic vocabulary that would elevate the response. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'keep doing such a work' (should be 'continuing in such a job') and 'my business has grown now to 3 countries' (should be 'expanded into'). The range is sufficient to communicate ideas but does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that detract from the quality of the writing. Examples include 'mental health will aslo deteriorate' (spelling error), 'keep trying to make situation better' (missing article), and 'raised amount equal to which I lost' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are instances where sentence structure is slightly disjointed. The student demonstrates an ability to use complex sentences, but the frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.

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