Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22

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)

Whether people should accept bad circumstances or work to improve them is debatable. Although some individuals agree, others disagree. I strongly believe it's necessary for people to generally try to improve their situation.

Certain individuals find comfort in letting go of situations they feel are beyond their control, such as a shortage of money and mediocre jobs. The main reason for this development is the feeling of low self-esteem or lack of willpower. Most people are too relaxed to try by all means to achieve greater heights. This means they find it hard for them to escape bad situations. For instance, healthcare workers such as nurses might choose to become bedside nurses for their whole life because they feel limited or lack the will to venture into other fields where they are appreciated enough, even though they are underpaid and are overworked. The knock-on effect is that they live in working environments where they are underappreciated and inadequately compensated for their work.

Taking charge of one's situation in order to improve it is the best call. Some people often make efforts to come out of difficult situations by any means. Nowadays, people go so far as to work part-time jobs and take out loans in order for them to overcome financial burdens. In addition, improving their situation gives people peace of mind. For instance, people who have worked under harsh conditions where they are not satisfied or underpaid tend to leave and find environments that are more favourable to them in both monetary and appreciation terms. The advantage is a healthy, productive mindset. Therefore, bad situations should serve as a challenge rather than a trap.

In summation, although accepting situations may be necessary, I strongly believe that people should try to improve their circumstances whenever possible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—accepting bad situations versus trying to improve them—and clearly states the writer's own opinion from the introduction through to the conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of healthcare workers and individuals taking out loans to overcome financial burdens. While the argument regarding why people accept bad situations is a bit generalised, the overall position is well-developed and sustained throughout the essay, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs exploring each side of the argument, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'For instance', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall arrangement remains coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, employing appropriate academic terms such as 'unsatisfactory', 'mediocre', 'inadequately compensated', and 'financial burdens'. There are some attempts at less common lexical items ('knock-on effect', 'venture into other fields'), showing an awareness of style and collocation, although minor infelicities occur. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication, comfortably placing the response at Band 6.5 to 7.0, with strong elements reflecting a solid Band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The writer successfully employs complex forms, such as concessive clauses ('Although some individuals agree...') and relative clauses ('...environments that are more favourable...'). There are occasional minor grammatical errors, such as 'for their whole life' instead of 'for their whole lives', but these errors do not impede communication. The punctuation and sentence boundaries are well-controlled, supporting frequent error-free sentences.

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