Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-30

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 everyday face different level of obstacles that fell them in difficulties in terms of doing unsuitable works or not earning a good amount of money. There are individuals who argue that accepting is the best solution; in contrary, others believe that people should try hard to improve the existing situation.

Sometimes people do not get the opportunity to choose, rather they can just go with the flow even if they do not have any interest regarding their jobs. Also individuals often fear that they might not get any other opportunities in this competitive world, and if they quit the present one might lead their family in a worse condition. Also self-doubting is a crucial factor too, where the person might feel that he or she is not good enough for other jobs too.

However, some are strong enough to handle these situations and keep themselves first as their priority. For them, doing something boring or not interesting might lead them to depression or affect them mentally. Although choosing of being unemployed for a period might lead them to other problems as not able maintaine the daily expenses or household expenditures; but if the persons have confidence on themselves, they would find out the possible solutions. Happiness is the most precious thing for the people and some people choose happiness with hardships rather than earning money being suffocated. For instance, there was a man in Dhaka who was working in a multinational company and was earning a handsome amount of money but he quit his job because he felt that he was not feeling happy, he used to feel exhausted doing the job. So, he went to his village and was trying to do something he likes and built a business in the agriculture sector. Although it was quite difficult in the initial moment, but now he is earning ten times more than his previous job and he feels happy doing this.

Some persons have confidence in themselves that they could do anything in life and they do not just chase for money, rather they chase self-satisfaction. But not all the individuals have the choice or ability to live in an uncertain situations, so they choose to live with dissatisfaction but with a constant earning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both accepting an unsatisfactory situation and trying to improve it, and your view that people should pursue fulfilment when they can is evident, particularly in the example of the Dhaka worker who leaves his job and starts an agricultural business. However, the discussion is uneven: the reasons for accepting a difficult situation are listed—limited opportunities, family responsibilities and self-doubt—but are not explored with a specific example or much explanation. Your own position also shifts slightly: you praise taking risks, then conclude that some people choose dissatisfaction for steady income without clearly stating when you think acceptance is preferable. Develop both sides more evenly and make your final judgement explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph explaining why people may accept their circumstances, a paragraph supporting change, and a concluding comparison. The example helps the reader follow the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose, and the final paragraph repeats the contrast between self-satisfaction and financial security rather than drawing the discussion together. Some linking is also awkward or mechanical, such as “in contrary” and the repeated use of “Although” in the example paragraph. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each reason to its consequence, and make the conclusion directly summarise your position. This would make the organisation more consistently easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “competitive world,” “self-doubting,” “self-satisfaction,” and “household expenditures,” and the Dhaka example gives you opportunities to express work and financial ideas. However, several inaccurate or unnatural choices make parts of the response less clear, such as “obstacles that fell them in difficulties,” “unsuitable works,” and “chase for money.” Some word forms and collocations also need attention, including “choosing of being unemployed” and “constant earning.” Aim for more precise, natural combinations and check whether a word fits its grammatical role. The range is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, but these noticeable errors limit clarity and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “even if,” “because,” and “Although,” and most of your meaning can be understood. However, complex sentences are often not controlled successfully. For example, “Although choosing of being unemployed for a period might lead them to other problems …; but if…” combines incompatible linking structures and has an incomplete phrase after “as.” There are also errors in agreement and sentence construction, as in “People everyday face different level” and “if they quit the present one might lead their family.” Punctuation around the long example sentence is also difficult to follow. Build shorter, accurate sentences first, then add subordinate clauses and check that each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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