Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20

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)

Some people think that it is the best way to acknowledge any terrible circumstances, for instance, a job that they are unsatisfied or a lack of money. While others disagree with this idea, thinking that they can refine these situations. In following paragraphs, both of these point of views will be discussed in detail.

On the one hand, accepting a bad situation can have its advantages. It might help people stay calm and avoid unnecessary stress. For example, if someone has a job they're not passionate about but it provides a stable income, they might choose to stick with it for the security it offers. Acceptance can also mean people focus on what they can control, rather than wasting energy on things they can't change.

On the other hand, many people argue that we should always try to improve our circumstances. Taking action to change a bad situation can lead to a better life and greater satisfaction. For example, if someone doesn't like their job, they could look for new opportunities, gain new skills, or even start their own business. Trying to improve things can also boost confidence and make people feel more in control of their lives.

Personally, I think it's usually better to try and make changes if you're unhappy with something. While accepting the situation can help you feel more at peace in the short term, working towards something better can bring a sense of accomplishment and hope for the future.

In conclusion, while there are times when accepting a bad situation makes sense, I believe that trying to improve it is usually the best approach. Taking action can lead to more happiness and better opportunities in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on how to deal with difficult situations—whether to accept them or try to improve them—and provides a clear personal opinion throughout. In the body paragraphs, the writer presents relevant and extended ideas, such as weighing the psychological comfort and financial security of acceptance against the personal growth and higher satisfaction achieved through proactive change. Examples like staying in an unpassionate job for stability or looking for new opportunities illustrate the arguments well. The position is consistently maintained from the introduction through to the conclusion, showing a well-developed line of reasoning that fully satisfies the task requirements without any irrelevant digressions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and a natural progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introductory overview to balanced body paragraphs discussing each viewpoint in turn, followed by the writer's perspective and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, as seen with transition phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is managed appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear and easy to follow, ensuring the reader is guided effortlessly through the writer's arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the task. Less common lexical items are attempted with general success, such as 'stable income', 'unnecessary stress', 'accomplishment', and 'proactive' concepts expressed as 'taking action'. There are minor infelicities in word choice, such as 'acknowledge any terrible circumstances' instead of 'accept', and 'a job that they are unsatisfied' (missing a preposition like 'with'), but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and the lexical selection allows the writer to convey their ideas with appropriate precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional forms ('if someone has a job...') and subordinate clauses ('While accepting the situation can help...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, though a few minor grammatical inaccuracies persist, such as 'While others disagree with this idea, thinking that they can refine these situations' (where 'refine' is less natural than 'improve') and 'In following paragraphs' (missing the article 'the'). Punctuation is handled well, and grammatical control is strong enough that meaning is never obscured, placing the essay comfortably within the Band 7 range.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.