Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some societies, stress is now regarded as a major problem, and it is thought that people suffer from more stress than they did in the past. However, others feel that the amount of stress people have today is exaggerated. They say that previous generations were under more pressure, but the idea of suffering from stress did not exist.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Many communities believe that, currently stress is a primary hurdle in people's lives. It is also assumed that, older generations sufferred less stress than the today's generation do. On the contrary, some other people state that, the mentioned quantity of current people's stress is just overestimated. They also say that, previous generations also had stress in their lives, but they didn't know the terminology.

The lives were never easy for anyone. Older people also had stress in their lives. But as time going, life is becoming more complex with lots of issues like unemployment and workloads. So, in my opinion, people are surely suffering more than ever.

People of all time, had to take pressure to earn their livelihood. Not existing the term can be a reason, for what the ancient people didn't mention about stress very frequently. But from the history, we have learned that, older generations were very hard working. From the beginning of lives, human beings were under lots of pressure for their survival. But, as life was simpler, maximum time, they didn't realize that they were suffering from stress. However, older generation's sufferings do not justify that, today's people is exaggerating their current situation.

In today's time, we can see that the unemployment issue has become a severe issue. In many countries, huge number of graduates do not get enough opportunity to work. That brings an immeasurable stress in our younger generations. For instance, in Bangladesh, more than 50% university graduates are unemployed. Addditionally, the employees who are working in any organizations, they have to do overtime for earning a handsome salary. These pressures are continuously pushing today's generation to a more stressful life. That's why I agree with the opinion that, current generation is living in the most stressed situation than before.

In conclusion, earning was always a tough job. Older generations also had a stressed lives, but the present situation is more hectic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear opinion: you acknowledge that earlier generations faced pressure, then argue that modern life is more stressful. The examples of unemployment and overtime are relevant, and the Bangladesh graduate-employment example gives your argument some specificity. However, the two sides are not developed equally. The claim that earlier life was simpler is asserted rather than explained, and the point that people lacked the term “stress” does not fully establish how much pressure they experienced. The modern-life argument is clearer, but the statistic is not supported or connected to its wider effects. Develop each view with a more precise explanation and show why your evidence supports your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, discussion of earlier generations, a paragraph on present-day pressures, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow your overall position. Some progression is weakened by repetition, particularly the repeated claims that older people also experienced stress and that current life is more difficult. Linking phrases such as “On the contrary,” “However,” and “In conclusion” are used, but connections between individual claims are sometimes unclear; for example, the move from historical hard work to the idea that life was simpler needs a clearer explanation. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, though the first body paragraph could more directly develop the opposing view before responding to it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “unemployment,” “workloads,” “livelihood,” “graduates,” and “overtime,” so the main ideas are understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “immeasurable stress.” However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, including “primary hurdle in people’s lives,” “the mentioned quantity of current people’s stress,” and “a more stressful life.” Spelling errors such as “sufferred” and “Addditionally” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural, precise combinations rather than elaborate phrasing: for example, “a major source of stress” and “the level of stress experienced today.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using contrast and cause-and-effect structures, as in “But as time going, life is becoming more complex with lots of issues like unemployment and workloads.” However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur throughout and sometimes make the meaning less clear. Examples include “as time going,” “the today’s generation do,” “huge number of graduates,” and “today’s people is exaggerating.” Commas are also frequently placed after introductory words or before “that” where they are not needed. Work on forming complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement; for instance, “As time goes by, life is becoming more complex” and “today’s people are exaggerating.”

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