Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-28

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)

Nowadays, many people believe that today stress is a major cause. Therefore, they think that more people are suffering from this than before. While other believes that stress is overstated, than our previous ancestors were under more pressure and they were not acknowledged by the stress they had. This essay will discuss both possible reasons before explaining why people are suffering more than before from stress is a better choice. In my prospective, People are under greater stress than they were previously. Because they are facing financial problems and growing work related demands more than the people having in the past.

The primary reason for the increasing levels of depression in modern society is that people are facing greater difficulties managing their living expenses than they did in the past. This is mainly because living cost are rising. For instance people have to spend a significant proportion of their income on basic necessities, such as food, housing, and electricity bills. As a result, they often struggle to save money and may experience constant financial anxiety.

Another significant factor is that people face increasing pressure at work, including tight deadlines and long working hours. Employers should promote a healthy work-life balance by reducing excessive workloads, offering flexible working hours, and providing adequate breaks. Example: As a result, employees would have more time to relax and spend with their families, which could improve their mental well-being.

In conclusion, while both options have their merits, I believe that it is genuinely true that in this time people has been going through a lot of stress than in the past is better choice because it leads by the difficulties in financial and work load management.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear overall view—that people experience more stress today—and give relevant reasons, especially rising living costs and workplace demands. The examples of spending on food, housing and bills help explain financial anxiety. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the earlier-generations perspective is only briefly mentioned in the introduction; it is not developed or supported in a body paragraph. The claim that previous generations faced more pressure therefore remains unexplored. Some discussion also shifts from explaining the two views to recommending what employers should do. To strengthen the response, explain why some people believe past generations faced greater pressure, then compare that view with your own using specific support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The paragraphs each focus on a main reason, and linking phrases such as “For instance,” “As a result,” and “Another significant factor” help readers follow the progression. However, the organisation does not fully match the task: both body paragraphs support your own view, while the opposing view is left in the introduction. The transition “Example:” is abrupt, and the conclusion repeats the position without clearly drawing together the discussion of both sides. Some connections are also unclear, particularly the long opening sentence contrasting the two views. Give each viewpoint a clear place in the body and use transitions that show comparison as well as addition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “financial anxiety,” “basic necessities,” “tight deadlines,” “excessive workloads,” and “mental well-being.” These expressions make the main concerns understandable and show attempts to use more specific language. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “a major cause” for stress being a major problem, “previous ancestors,” and “the increasing levels of depression” when the essay is discussing stress. “In my prospective” also does not express the intended meaning. These choices sometimes make the argument less precise. Aim to use standard collocations and distinguish carefully between stress and depression; proofreading for word forms and natural phrasing will improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a subordinate clause in “This is mainly because living cost are rising” and a relative clause in “necessities, such as food, housing, and electricity bills.” Most ideas remain understandable, but there are some recurring errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction. For example, “other believes” should be “others believe,” “people has been going” should be “people have been going,” and “living cost are rising” needs a plural form or an article. The opening also contains an incomplete construction beginning “While other believes,” and “Because they are facing…” is a sentence fragment. Work on complete sentence boundaries and subject–verb agreement while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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