Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

There is always two sides of a situation as there are two sides of a coin. Sometimes luck might favor you, somtimes you might get the short end of the stick. As human beings, we are constanly tested. We are constantly put in situations that challenge our choices, our patience.

Some can't help but accept the bad situation they're in whereas some try and improve their situation to the best of their abilities. None are guaranteed and no one can say for sure which option might they be able to accept. Some people believe it is best to accept a bad situation because the other options might be even worse. So their current situation seems like lesser of all the other bad options. For example, any unsatisfactory job or shortage of money; maybe they're sick. Mentally or physically accepting might seem better or easier than trying to improve the situation. Moreso because they can't possibly know the outcomes of the other options.

On the contrary, some people try to improve their situation. Maybe they look for a better job that fit their agenda better or offers more money. They also need a tremendous amount of confidence to take the steps in trying to improve their situations which can somtimes backfire.

But also sometimes they can genuinely acquire a much better outcome. You know what they say, "Shoot for the moon, you'll land amongst the stars." But they also need to prepare for a worse outcome and be cautious.

As for me, I'm the follower of the second argument. That way I'd have no regrets. Even if things go wrong I'll only have myself to blame and won't hate my guts for not trying. However, I mostly think the situation doesn't really matter, it's how you react to the situation tells what kind of a person you are because fate rarely graces us, but our choices are in our hands.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You discuss both views and make your own position clear: you explain why people may stay with a bad situation when alternatives seem riskier, then describe the potential benefits and risks of trying to improve it. Your personal view—that trying avoids later regret—is relevant and directly answers the question. However, some points are asserted rather than developed. The examples of illness and looking for a better job are brief, and the discussion could explain more specifically when acceptance is sensible or how someone might improve their circumstances. The final comment about fate and personal choices adds a broad reflection but does not fully extend your argument. Develop each main idea with a concrete example and clearer reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a concluding personal position. Transitions such as “On the contrary” and “As for me” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. “Some can’t help but accept … whereas some try” repeats the same contrast, while “None are guaranteed” does not clearly identify what is not guaranteed. The paragraph about trying to improve circumstances also shifts quickly from job choices to confidence, possible failure, and a quotation. Use clearer links between each claim and its explanation, and make references such as “they” and “the other options” more precise to strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary and include some expressive phrases, such as “short end of the stick,” “backfire,” and “no regrets.” These help communicate the ideas and show an attempt to vary your language. At times, however, idiomatic or conversational wording is less suitable for a formal essay: “hate my guts” and “You know what they say” sound informal, while “fit their agenda better” is not a natural collocation in this context. There are also spelling errors, including “somtimes” and “constanly.” Choose more precise, formal expressions and proofread carefully; this would make your vocabulary more controlled without losing clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including contrast clauses (“whereas”) and conditional structures (“Even if things go wrong”). Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. The opening should be “There are always two sides,” and “which option might they be able to accept” has incorrect question-word order in an indirect clause; use “which option they might be able to accept.” In “a better job that fit … or offers,” the verb forms do not agree, and “it’s how you react to the situation tells” combines two clause structures incorrectly. Review subject–verb agreement, indirect questions, and sentence boundaries. More consistent accuracy across these structures would improve control.

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