Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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)

Bad situation can be solved by acceptance or by changing it. In some cases , it can be a net positive in the long run to simply accept it while in some cases it may cause more harm than good to let it go. This essay will discuss and explore both of the viewpoints.

There are many reasons why a bad situation can be solved simply by letting the situation pass. By doing such an action, it allows us to open opportunity for better future. We can redirect that energy to something more productive and for a brand new start in some cases. In some cases, acceptance is also a way to allow time to fill the loss created by bad situation. For example, if a person recently lost their loved one then the only answer to grieve is to come to an understanding of their death and letting time heal.

Although some things can be better by letting things pass on their own, there are some situation that requires us to act on it. There are cases where a person needs to actively put effort to make it better and more bearable .For example, if my car has been damaged then I need to act on time and get my car insurance to reduce the financial harm it will case.

In conclusion, both of the perception can be correct depending on what the moment calls. Some believe it is better to accept because it will open new door and also allow time to heal but it is not always the perfect answer to all bad situation. An individual needs to be able to ameliorate

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views by explaining why acceptance may help someone move forward and why action can reduce harm, and you include relevant examples about bereavement and car insurance. However, the discussion is uneven: the acceptance view receives more explanation, while the case for actively improving a situation is supported by only one brief example. Your own position is also not fully clear. The introduction says acceptance can be positive “in some cases,” but the conclusion mainly repeats that either view may be right and ends with the incomplete thought “An individual needs to be able to ameliorate.” State directly which approach you favour, or explain clearly how you decide between them, then develop that position with a specific reason.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. This makes the main line of discussion easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “For example,” “Although,” and “In conclusion” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive, particularly the repeated “In some cases,” and the conclusion does not bring the discussion to a complete close. The reference in “it allows us” is also not fully clear because the sentence begins with “By doing such an action.” Use more varied, precise links between claims and examples, and ensure each paragraph develops one clear point before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to discuss the topic and make the examples understandable, including “acceptance,” “productive,” “actively put effort,” and “financial harm.” There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “ameliorate,” although the final sentence is unfinished and the word does not fit naturally in that context. Several expressions are imprecise or awkward, including “open opportunity,” “the only answer to grieve,” and “what the moment calls.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, and “bad situation” is repeated frequently. Aim for more natural collocations and precise topic vocabulary, such as describing a situation as “unsatisfactory” or saying that someone should “take steps to improve it.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, for example, “Although some things can be better by letting things pass on their own, there are some situation that requires us to act on it.” This shows an effort to connect contrasting ideas, and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, some grammatical errors remain in articles, agreement, plurals, and sentence construction. Examples include “Bad situation” instead of “A bad situation,” “some situation that requires” instead of “some situations that require,” and “both of the perception.” The final sentence is incomplete, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Review agreement and article use, and check that every sentence has a complete main clause before submitting.

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