Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In recent years, there has been a growing debate about whether people should accept the bad situations like an unsatisfactory occupation or lack of money, or they had better try to improve these situations. This essay examines both of the views and provides my opinion.

To begin with, individuals who accept their faith believe that there is always good behind the obstacles that face them. In other words, people who work in jobs that they don’t like say that they at least have the opportunity to provide for their families and manage their lives, which not all people got the chance that they have. Another example is in schools, many students study subjects that they do not prefer, but they always think that is is the best solution for them to find jobs when they graduate.

On the other hand, others argue that it is better to try hard to change such situations, they believe that working in undesirable environment for instance causes a mental issues such as depression, anxiety and lack of confidence, instead they suggest sacrificing to get the job they like in order to perform better.

The shortage of money means numerous financial probelms, instead of just sitting, many people try to find a solutions to avoid such problems by finding a facilities that provide good salaries or having another part time job. To sum up, working hard to change the bad facts in life is the best way to avoid finacial or mental issues and live in a better way.

To conclude, there is no easy answer for this topic, however on balance, I tend to believe that making sacrifices to enhance my life is better than accepting the bad situations due to the reasons I mentioned in my essay.

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 limited. For instance, the argument for accepting bad situations is supported by general examples like school subjects, but the explanation lacks depth. Similarly, the counter-argument regarding mental health is mentioned but not fully explored with specific evidence. While the position is clear throughout, the essay would benefit from more detailed examples or a more nuanced exploration of the consequences of each approach to reach a higher band. The conclusion is present but brief.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'To sum up' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'The shortage of money means numerous financial probelms, instead of just sitting...' lacks a strong cohesive link to the previous point. Overall, the progression of ideas is coherent, and paragraphing is used appropriately.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'unsatisfactory occupation' and 'undesirable environment'. However, there are occasional errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'probelms' instead of 'problems' and 'finacial' instead of 'financial'. Additionally, phrases like 'accept their faith' (likely meaning 'fate') and 'finding a facilities' show some limitations in collocation and grammatical accuracy. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning but lacks the precision and sophistication 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 generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'which not all people got the chance that they have' (awkward phrasing), 'is is the best solution' (repetition), and 'causes a mental issues' (incorrect article usage). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some run-on sentences, such as '...change such situations, they believe that...'. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and avoiding comma splices.

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