Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-11
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)
A number of individuals believe that accepting a challenging condition such as unlikely or low-paying job are fine, while others are of the opinion that it is great to search and refome these conditions.
Although it is acceptable at the commencement of someone career, I believe that people should for the betterment of their financial crisis and for the achievement of their desired jobs.
On the one hand, it is believed that getting a job which is not of your interest or able to cope with financial challeges is a good career choice which sounds completely weird. A job where you are not interested in the work and income is not enough to cope with daily life challenges is a tough condition. For instance, a person who has family and children is not able to fulfill their desires, whereas the workload makes him stressed and traumatized. However, those working in their desired conditions are happy.
On the other hand, people believe that one should improve his skills and working environment if they are not feeling well in the current place. Before changing the workspace people feel insecure for being unemployed in future , But those who took the risk most of the time have better choices and positions in the future. For example , recently, I skip oe of my academy beacause of workload and salary, and joined a new one with high wages and better working conditions which helps me to regain my confidence. Therefore, I suugest that people should switch his job and find better options for themselves.
In conclusion, although low wages and unfriendly environment are better at the start of your career to get expeience , I beleieve that one should workhard and improve their skill to fit themselves in a better place.
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 uneven. While the second body paragraph provides a relevant personal example, the first body paragraph relies on general assertions that are not fully extended. The introduction is slightly confusing due to phrasing issues, such as 'refome' and 'unlikely job', which obscures the initial position. To reach a higher band, ensure that each viewpoint is supported by more detailed reasoning or illustrative examples that clearly link back to the prompt's core question regarding the trade-off between acceptance and improvement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the pronoun 'they' in the second paragraph, which lacks a precise antecedent. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of imprecise word choice and spelling errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'refome' (reform), 'skip oe of my academy' (left one of my jobs), and 'unlikely' (unsuitable) demonstrate a limited control over academic register. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'financial crisis' and 'working environment', the frequent errors in word formation and collocation suggest a need for more precise vocabulary usage. Expanding the range of synonyms and focusing on correct word forms would significantly improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'people should switch his job') and article usage. Punctuation is also problematic, particularly the inconsistent use of commas and the incorrect capitalization of 'But' mid-sentence. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent grammatical slips prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical consistency, particularly regarding pronoun-antecedent agreement and sentence-level punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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