Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-19

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 6.5)

Accepting is one of the ways to handle negative experiences. While some people prefer to act and try their best to get out from a bad situation, others just choose to accept them. I am of firm belief that trying to improve your current status is considerably more effective and satisfactory.

Many people think that, in order not to fail, is better to leave things as they already are. One of the reasons why people substain this view is the innative fear of failure. This is because they are afraid of wasting energy to search for something that could possibly result in a delusion. In fact, by accepting these situations, people do not have to deal with eventual sadness and sense of failure given by a negative outcome. For example, people might not give an effort to find another job, due to the fear of losing their unsatisfactory current one.

On the other hand, it is widely believed that it is generally worth to at least have a try to improve your present. Some of the best things in life that can happen are unexpected, but in order to receive these occasions, people need to look for a change. For instance, even though searching for a new job can be tiring, it can result in positive ways, and lead to a general improvement of life. A compelling body of research suggests that people who do not have regrets, live a better life, and that is why it is always worth trying.

In conclusion, whilst other believe that accepting is easier, I do not agree with this statement, as the most effective action that you can do for yourself is trying to improve.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—accepting a bad situation versus trying to improve it—and clearly states their own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are adequately extended and supported with relevant reasoning, such as the psychological fear of failure associated with acceptance, and the potential personal growth linked to pursuing change. However, some arguments remain slightly generalised, such as the example regarding job searching, which prevents the response from reaching the highest bands. Overall, the task response is well-structured and fully satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs discussing the two opposing views, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'While some people', 'In fact', 'On the other hand', and 'For instance' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately and supports the overall structure of the essay. Referencing is generally clear, though minor improvements in linking phrases could elevate the flow further. The standard achieved aligns comfortably with a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'unsatisfactory', 'compelling body of research', and 'unexpected'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'substain' instead of 'sustain', 'innative' instead of 'innate', and 'result in a delusion' where 'disappointment' or 'failure' would be more appropriate. Additionally, expressions like 'have a try to improve' are somewhat unnatural. These errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as conditional and concessive clauses ('Whilst other believe that accepting is easier, I do not agree...'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including 'is better to leave things' (missing subject 'it'), 'fear of losing their unsatisfactory current one', and 'whilst other believe' (singular/plural mismatch). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6.0 rating.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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