Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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)

It is better to try and improve bad situation, while some people believe that it is best to accept such situations, such as unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. In order to survive, accept the bad situation and make yourself used to it, whereas the other approach is to try and improve the situation according to your will.

In case of accepting the situation, people will try to live with that by ignoring the difficulty they face at work. It can be any issue like poor working environment, heavy workload, and an unjustified salary. However, you try to convince your mind to accept that as there is no other option for you. Money is not sufficient, you reduce the list of things required by you. This acceptance of circumstances lead to mental health issues with the repetition of same situation.

While, other group of people try and improve such situation in order to escape the rat race. They set their boundaries not to communicate after working hour, having clear goal to achieve, and try to be better than before. They make change in the environment rather than accepting, which is beneficial for them in the longer run. However, it can cause conflicts in short term, may need to face the challenges and make improvement to overcome that situation.

In conclusion, accepting bad situation is beneficial in earlier stages, but in longer run, you should try to improve the situation. I strongly agree with try and improve the situation rather then living with that headache, you will feel relaxed and work more accurately.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve a difficult situation, especially in the conclusion. The examples of poor working conditions, heavy workloads and insufficient money are relevant, and you recognise that change can bring short-term conflict as well as longer-term benefits. However, the discussion is only partially developed: the reasons someone might accept a situation are mostly presented as having no alternative, rather than exploring when acceptance could be sensible or beneficial. The improvement approach is also described in general terms, without a specific example showing how someone might make a change. Develop both sides more evenly and explain your opinion with a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and some linking is mechanical or inaccurate. For example, “While, other group of people” does not form a clear transition, and “However” introduces a contrast that is not fully explained in the sentence about accepting circumstances. The opening also combines the two positions in a way that makes the writer’s own stance less clear at first. Use topic sentences that identify each view, then connect each supporting point explicitly to its reason or consequence; check that each linking word expresses the intended relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “poor working environment,” “heavy workload,” “boundaries,” and “conflicts.” There are also attempts at more expressive language, such as “escape the rat race” and “in the longer run.” However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations sound unnatural, which makes parts of the argument less precise. For instance, “make yourself used to it” and “convince your mind to accept that” are awkward ways to describe adapting to circumstances, while “unjustified salary” does not clearly convey low or unfair pay. Aim for more natural collocations and avoid repeating “situation” by using precise alternatives such as “circumstances,” “conditions,” or “employment.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “while,” “as,” and “which,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as longer constructions: “This acceptance of circumstances lead” has subject–verb disagreement, and “they set their boundaries … having clear goal … and try” mixes grammatical forms. Articles and plurals are also often missing, as in “bad situation,” “unsatisfactory job,” and “working hour.” The final sentence, “I strongly agree with try and improve,” is not grammatically complete in its current form. Practise building accurate sentences first, then extend them with subordinate clauses; check agreement, articles, and parallel structure during proofreading.

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