Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28

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)

People should have different openions about how they face their problems. Some belive that accepting a harsh situation for example dissatisfying job or financial difficulties is better. While other thinks that it is better to try and improve their circumstances. Although accepting bad situation is sometimes benificial but trying to get rid of it is also important.

On the one hand, accepting a bad situation sometimes be benificial. This is because not every problem can solve at the moment, sometimes it may take some time and worrying too may disturbe person's mental health. For example, someone who is unable to find the job according to his desire need because of limited oppertunities may need to accept that situation. In another case if an individual did not have enough salary, he will be obeviously trying to compesiate.

On the second hand, I think that facing these type of situation for a long tin is not benificial. Persons should try to work hard to change their situation. For example, if the job of an induvidual is unsatisfactory, he should try to get the better oppertuniety of satisfiyng job or he should try to start a small business to improve his financial conditions.

In my openion a balance between accept a bad situation and try to improve the situation is important. Maybe at first the bad situation is in fate but accepting that condition and trying not for improvement may take oppertunities away from the person.

In conclusion, although accepting difficult situations can provide peace of mind, I believe that people should generally try to improve their circumstances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and give a clear overall preference for trying to improve difficult circumstances, especially in the final paragraph and conclusion. The examples about an unsatisfactory job and limited job opportunities are relevant. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the point about accepting a low salary ends with “he will be obviously trying to compensate,” without explaining what this means or how it supports acceptance. Your position also shifts slightly between saying both responses are important and saying people should generally seek improvement. To strengthen the response, explain each view more fully and make your position consistent throughout, with specific reasoning or a developed example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, your opinion, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the second hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For instance, “In another case” introduces an example that does not clearly connect to the preceding point, and the salary sentence does not explain the relationship between trying to compensate and accepting the situation. The separate opinion paragraph also repeats ideas from the introduction and conclusion. Use clearer links between claims and examples, and organise your own position alongside the discussion so that the progression feels less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “financial difficulties,” “limited opportunities,” “mental health,” and “improve their circumstances.” However, the range is limited, and repeated use of “situation” and “try” makes the expression less precise. Several spelling errors are noticeable, including “openions,” “benificial,” “oppertunities,” and “induv idual” (written as “induvidual” in the response). Some word combinations are also unclear, such as “job according to his desire need” and “get the better opportunity of satisfying job.” These choices can make the reader pause. Build a more accurate range of collocations for employment and financial hardship, and proofread spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “Although accepting bad situation is sometimes beneficial…” and a conditional example beginning “if the job of an individual is unsatisfactory.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include “accepting a bad situation sometimes be beneficial,” “not every problem can solve,” and “someone … need to accept,” where verb forms or agreement are incorrect. Articles and sentence construction also need attention, as in “accepting bad situation” and the fragment-like opening “While other thinks…”. Practise forming complete clauses, checking subject–verb agreement and verb patterns, and using articles consistently. Greater accuracy in these structures would make your ideas easier to follow.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.