Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06

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 6.0)

On the one hand, accepting a difficult situation can be beneficial in some circumstances. Not every problem can be solved immediately, and constantly worrying about things beyond one's control can cause unnecessary stress. For example, if someone is temporarily experiencing financial difficulties because of an economic recession, accepting the situation while carefully managing their expenses may be more practical than becoming frustrated. Furthermore, some circumstances are unavoidable, such as unexpected family responsibilities or temporary unemployment. In such cases, acceptance can help people remain calm and focus on what they can realistically control.

On the other hand, making an effort to improve the difficult situation can lead to significant long-term benefits. If people simply accept problems without attempting to change them, they may remain in the same circumstances for many years. For instance an employee who is dissatisfied with a poorly paid job could develop new skills, gain additional qualifications and eventually apply for a new and better positions. Similarly someone facing financial difficulties could learn about budgeting or aquire skills that allow them to find additional sources of income. Taking such steps can increase both financial stability and personal satisfaction.

In conclusion, accepting an unpleasant situation can be appropriate when it is temporary or beyond a persons control. However I believe that person should take reasonable action to improve their circumstances whenever they have the ability to do so, as this can increase better opportunities and a more satisfying future for themselves.

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 essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments regarding acceptance and proactive change are relevant and logically supported with examples, the brevity prevents a more thorough exploration of the topic. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples and provide more depth in your analysis to ensure the response is sufficiently developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is clear, and the relationship between sentences is generally well-managed. The structure is coherent, though the overall brevity limits the complexity of the cohesive links that could be established.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You demonstrate the ability to use topic-specific language such as 'economic recession,' 'financial stability,' and 'unavoidable.' There are a few minor errors, such as the spelling of 'aquire' (acquire) and a missing apostrophe in 'persons control.' While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band score. Focusing on more precise collocations and ensuring accurate spelling will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound, though there are occasional errors, such as 'aquire skills that allow them to find additional sources of income' (which is grammatically fine, but the sentence structure could be more varied) and the missing possessive apostrophe in 'persons control.' Punctuation is generally correct, although there is a missing comma after 'For instance' in the second paragraph. The control of grammar is good, but more variety in complex sentence forms would be beneficial.

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