Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01

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 6.0)

It is important for people to take risks in both their professional and personal lives. Although risks can sometimes result in failure and difficulties, I believe that the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages because they can help people create new opportunities and develop new skills.

One of the major advantages of taking risks is that they can provide people with new opportunities for success in their professional lives. Employees who are willing to accept challenging situations and responsibilities may gain new skills and improve their careers. For instance, many successful entrepreneurs invest large amounts of money in businesses despite the possibility of failure. Without taking risks, people may limit their opportunities for success. In their personal lives, taking risks can also make people more confident and independent. For example, moving to another city to start a new business can create broader opportunities for personal and professional growth.

On the other hand, taking risks can have numerous disadvantages. A person can suffer financially if they make the wrong decision. It can also waste time, and a person might experience considerable stress. Financial difficulties can have a detrimental effect on a person's well-being and may cause significant stress and anxiety. Similarly, taking unnecessary risks can affect people's personal lives and lead to conflicts in their relationships. Therefore, people should take calculated risks and consider the possible consequences before making important decisions.

In conclusion, although taking risks can lead to failure and other difficulties, I believe that the benefits are greater when risks are carefully considered. Taking sensible risks can help people gain valuable experience, learn new skills and discover opportunities for personal and professional growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response addresses the prompt only partially, which keeps the score at this level. While the writer touches on the idea of accepting difficult situations versus trying to improve them in the conclusion, the main body paragraphs and your opening statement completely reframe the prompt around 'taking risks' in professional and personal lives. By shifting the discussion from 'accepting a bad situation' to 'taking risks', you fail to fully address all parts of the task as presented. Furthermore, the ideas regarding risk-taking are somewhat limited and under-developed, lacking specific exploration of the alternative view regarding the benefits of accepting difficult situations. To move to a higher band, you must ensure that your thesis and arguments directly answer the specific prompt provided rather than a tangential topic.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a coherent overall arrangement to the essay, and the writing is divided into logical paragraphs with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the progression is somewhat hindered by the shift in topic regarding risk-taking. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the major advantages', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to connect ideas, but referencing and transitions can occasionally feel mechanical rather than fluid. To improve Coherence and Cohesion, you should focus on ensuring that every paragraph flows naturally into the next and that logical links clearly connect the specific arguments back to the core prompt throughout the entire essay.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'detrimental effect', 'calculated risks', and 'entrepreneurs'. There are some appropriate word choices and collocations used throughout the body paragraphs. However, there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and styling, and the vocabulary remains somewhat standard rather than flexible. To reach a higher lexical band, you should incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated, less common vocabulary and precise idiomatic expressions with full awareness of style and collocation, while maintaining strict accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

This criterion represents a strong area in your writing, featuring a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Employees who are willing to accept challenging situations and responsibilities may gain new skills...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and your control of grammar, verb tenses, and punctuation is generally solid, with only rare slips. Complex structures are handled with good control, and your sentences are clear and easy to read. To maintain or push this high level further, continue to polish your complex sentence patterns and ensure absolute precision across all grammatical structures and punctuation marks.

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

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