Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-29

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 an ongoing debate about whether negative situations should be improved or accepted. In this essay I will examine both views and give my opinion on why I strongly believe that we should try and overcome the bad situations.

On the one hand, advocates of accepting bad situations stem from the believe that not everything is possible to improve, therefore the better option is to just accept the situation. They believe that by trying to improve hard times such as not beeing satisfied with our work or being short of money, the situations can become worse, rather that becoming better. Consequently, they rather accept the situation in order not to make it even worse. For instance, if someone is short of money and tries to improve the situation by gambling, he will most likely lose the little money he had left before, making the situation worse. According to this example, the better option would be to accept the situation rather that trying to improve it. However, what critics of improving such situations usually overlook is that there are always ways how bad situations can be improved.

On the other hand, I strongly agree with advocates of improving bad situations, because if we don't try to improve them we will always wonder if we could have led a better life. The advocates of this view believe that it is always better to try than not to try to make the situation better. Those who are scared of trying will never improve their life, evan though they would like to. Hard times can be overcomed only by trying to improve them and meanwhile it is true that it doesn't have to work out, it most likey will. For example, a paramedic changed his profession after not being satisfied with it, and proceed his dream profession of working as a teacher. Consequently, after the change, he is generally happier with his life. Therefore, I believe that it is important to try and improve bad situations.

In conclusion, while some believe that the better option is to accept bad situations, I believe that it is better to try and improve said situations, as it can have positive impact on our life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state your position clearly: the introduction says you “strongly believe” people should try to overcome bad situations, and the conclusion reinforces this. The discussion of acceptance is relevant, especially the gambling example, which shows how an attempted solution could worsen financial hardship. Your second view is also supported by the paramedic’s career change. However, some reasoning is asserted rather than fully explained: for example, “it most likely will” does not establish why attempts to improve circumstances are likely to succeed, and the career example could show more clearly what steps enabled the change. Develop these points with more specific reasoning and acknowledge that improvement may require careful planning, not simply trying.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. The progression from the acceptance argument to your preferred view is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help orient the reader. However, some linking is mechanical, and repeated use of “Consequently” and “Therefore” makes connections feel formulaic. The sentence beginning “However, what critics…” also shifts toward your counterargument before the paragraph has fully rounded off the acceptance view. Use a wider range of referencing and transitions, and make the relationship between each example and its point more explicit to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “ongoing debate,” “advocates,” “short of money,” and “overcome,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “not everything is possible to improve.” However, several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision: “stem from the believe” should be “stem from the belief,” “rather that” should be “rather than,” and “proceed his dream profession” is not a natural expression. “Bad situations” is repeated often, and “better” and “improve” also recur. Build a broader set of accurate alternatives, such as “adverse circumstances,” “financial hardship,” and “seek a more fulfilling career,” while checking spelling and natural word combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses in “because if we don't try to improve them…” and a conditional example beginning “if someone is short of money.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the overall argument remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “by trying to improve hard times such as not beeing satisfied,” the construction after “such as” is not parallel; “such as being dissatisfied with our work” would be clearer. The sentence “meanwhile it is true that it doesn't have to work out” needs clearer clause punctuation and structure, for example, “Although it may not work out, trying is worthwhile.” Review sentence boundaries and clause connections, and aim for more consistently accurate complex sentences.

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