Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-25

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)

Although many people are of the opinion, not to fight back a bad situation, such as a job from which they are unsatisfied or money shortage, as they think that what is written for them would eventually comes to them.While, other opposes the first idea to struggle and never give up. I opined for the second idea, because hard work leads to success.

On the one hand, people who are lazy and not interested in getting a successful life accept the bad situation. As many of them strongly believe that everything is written by God, and they do not need to worry about anything. For instance if any person is not satisfied with any trouble in their life whether it is there career or financial condition, these individuals would think of him as an ungrateful creature.In addition to that such people end up having a miserable life.

On the other hand, there are other people who always struggle for a better life and success.It does not make them ungrateful or greedy having a better lifestyle and a stable income source is a necessity not a luxury.For example, having a good house, nice car, and a good source of income makes there easy.Whenever, a person believe in himself and never hear anyone who demotivate them eventually, get all the happiness and success which they once desired for because even God help those who help themselve.

To conclude, i would give my opinion, that people who want a bare minimum end up getting one by not even trying to change there bad situation into a good, while in contrast those who are confident in themselves get all the success and luxuries of life.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve difficult circumstances: “I opined for the second idea, because hard work leads to success.” The two body paragraphs also give relevant reasons and examples, including beliefs about fate and the benefits of a stable income. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The first view is mainly attributed to people being “lazy,” which oversimplifies why someone might accept a situation; acceptance could also reflect practical limits or personal priorities. The examples about a house and car are asserted rather than explained, and the conclusion largely repeats the position. Develop each view with a more balanced reason and explain how your examples support it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “To conclude” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and linking is occasionally mechanical or inaccurate. For example, “For instance” introduces a sentence that does not clearly illustrate the preceding claim, while “Whenever” is used awkwardly to begin the final example in the second body paragraph. Some references, such as “these individuals” and “them,” are not always easy to connect to a precise idea. Use clearer topic sentences and make each example follow directly from, and explain, the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “unsatisfactory,” “financial condition,” “stable income source,” and “miserable life.” These choices show an attempt to discuss work, money, and personal success rather than relying entirely on basic wording. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which can make meaning less clear. For example, “fight back a bad situation” and “a job from which they are unsatisfied” are not natural expressions; “money shortage” is also less idiomatic than “financial hardship.” Repetition of “success,” “good,” and “people” reduces precision. Build a wider set of natural phrases for accepting circumstances, pursuing change, and describing financial security.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “Although,” “because,” and “Whenever.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors in verb forms, agreement, sentence boundaries, and punctuation occur frequently enough to affect readability. Examples include “what is written for them would eventually comes to them,” “other opposes,” and “a person believe.” Several sentences also run together, such as the opening, where a full stop or clearer clause structure is needed after “comes to them.” Practise forming accurate subject–verb combinations and checking verb forms, then use shorter sentences when a longer structure becomes difficult to control. Careful punctuation and sentence separation would make your ideas easier to follow.

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