Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 believed by some people that when people have an unsatisfactory job or have not enough money, they should accept this situation. However, others argue that people should try to improving their situations. If they accept their situation then it reduces their stress and helps them to maintain healthier lifestyles. In my opinion, the best alternatives is to work hard because it can change any circumstances. Moreover, people can share their problems with others, it may bring any solutions.

People think that when difficult situation arises in their life, whether it relates to job or money, they should accept these situations. First of all, if they do not accept their situation, it increases their daily stress. As a result, they can not concentrate on their day to day work, and feel demotivated. In contrast, if they accept it, their stress level may reduce and helps them to maintain a healthly lifestyle. For example, people of lower incoming groups happily accept their lifestyle and maintain a healthy lives.

I believe that through hard work any situations can be changed. And we should not give up easily. People who work hard regulary, they may find an opportunity to improve their job status or can manage money which makes the situation good. For instance, people in developed countries work hard, consequently they lead a standard lifestyles. Additionally, sometimes we need to share our problems with other people because if they know the situation, they may find a solution.

In conclusion, in order to maintain less stressful and healthier life, one could accept their situation easily. However, I think through hard work and dedication , people can change their situations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve difficult circumstances, particularly through hard work and seeking help from others. The point that acceptance may reduce stress is relevant, and you support it with an example about people on lower incomes. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the example is broad and does not explain how acceptance helps someone respond to a specific difficulty. Likewise, the claims that hard work can improve job status or money and that others may find solutions need more explanation or a concrete example. Develop each view with a clearer chain of reasoning, and make your own position more consistent by explaining when acceptance might be useful alongside efforts to improve a situation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on acceptance, a paragraph supporting change, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the two sides, and transitions such as “However,” “First of all,” and “In conclusion” signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive, especially the repeated references to accepting a situation and reducing stress. Some links are awkward or unclear: “Additionally, sometimes we need to share our problems” introduces a related idea without showing how it connects to hard work. Improve cohesion by grouping related reasons, using pronouns with clear references, and explaining the relationship between each example and the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “unsatisfactory job,” “stress level,” “opportunity,” and “dedication.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems make the writing less natural. Examples include “lower incoming groups” for people with lower incomes, “standard lifestyles,” and “maintain a healthy lives.” There are also repeated general words such as “situation,” “people,” and “hard work,” which reduce precision. Build a wider set of accurate expressions for financial hardship, employment, and coping strategies, and check spelling and word forms. More precise vocabulary would help distinguish accepting circumstances from taking practical steps to change them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “if they do not accept their situation” and a relative clause in “people who work hard regularly.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but errors occur across the response and some complex constructions are not controlled. For example, “the best alternatives is” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “try to improving” uses the wrong verb form. In “if they accept it, their stress level may reduce and helps them,” the verbs do not form a consistent structure. Review agreement, infinitives after “try,” and parallel verb forms. Aim for accurate sentence patterns before adding further complexity, and check punctuation around joined clauses.

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