Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-26

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)

Sometimes people take the same situation in different ways. For instance, when it comes to a bad situation, some people rather just accept than change the whole thing. In the other hand, some people try to make it better. In my prespective, at least trying to improve the situation is the best choice. Because not giving a try means you push away possiblities too.

There are some things that hard to change. For example, people just tend to keep work, even their job is unsatisfied. Because they know finding a new job is difficult. They also know that if they managed to find a new job, there's no guarantee that the new job is better. Therefore, they just accept it as it is.

However, it is really important to try to make a worse situation better. If you try to change it, you may find a new solution. But nothing is going to happen, if you just give up at where you are. For example, let's say you had a worst day of your life. But if you just sit at your home and think about it all day, you will justdive in your emotions moe deeply. Instead of lock you in your emotions, having a walk or talk to your friends may help you feel better.

In conclusion, it is true that we can't change all things. Especially, for bigger problems, it is not easy to make it better. But at least give it a try helps you to not regret afterwards. Because you may regret for it could have been better if you tried to change. So even if it feels impossibe, at least give a one try.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve a difficult situation, especially in the opening and conclusion. The job example explains why someone might accept an unsatisfactory position: changing jobs is difficult and a new one may not be better. You also give a relevant example of responding to a bad day. However, the discussion remains limited and does not fully explore the broader examples in the prompt, particularly a shortage of money. The point that trying can prevent regret is repeated rather than developed with further reasoning. To strengthen the response, explain when acceptance may be sensible and support your own position with a more specific example of how practical action can improve a situation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Basic signposting such as “However” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the shift in argument. Nevertheless, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak, and several ideas are linked mechanically or repeated. For example, the conclusion restates that trying is worthwhile and may prevent regret without adding a final implication. Some connections are also unclear, as in “Because not giving a try means you push away possibilities too,” which is separated from the preceding sentence. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each example explicitly to the relevant view, and vary linking methods so the argument develops rather than circling back to the same point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “accept,” “improve,” “solution,” and “regret.” Some phrases are relevant to the topic, such as “finding a new job” and “make a worse situation better.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning less precise. Examples include “an unsatisfied job,” “a worst day,” and “dive in your emotions.” There are also spelling errors such as “prespective,” “possiblities,” and “impossibe.” Build a more precise set of expressions for discussing coping and change, and check spelling and collocations carefully. For instance, describe a job as “unsatisfactory” and say that someone may “become immersed in negative emotions.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “if you just sit at your home … you will…” and a contrast introduced by “even if.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. Examples include “some people rather just accept than change,” “There are some things that hard to change,” and “Instead of lock you in your emotions.” The sentence beginning “Because not giving a try…” is also an incomplete sentence, and “if they managed to find” shifts tense awkwardly in context. Practise complete sentence construction, infinitive and gerund patterns, and consistent verb forms. Proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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