Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-08

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 views and give your own opinion.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Many people assume that it is best to embrace a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such conditions.

In my perspective I believe if there is a slightiest possibility to do something better for life one should take it.

On the one hand, peope doesn't happily welcome bad things in their life. Everyone dreams for a better life even if it is not for themselves but at least for their family. Most of the people in the society who faces hard times in their life this is because of the jobs or career they are persuing. Either the jobs are not paying enough to support his family or the job requires long hours of physical strain. For example the person working as a security guard or a person working as a day labour. Most of these cases its pretty challenging for them to switch to a new profession as there are few vacancies for jobs and very competitve. So most of the time they endure the pain and accept their situation.

On the other hand, there are lot of examples in the society where a night watchaman studied overnight and successfully achieved government job. If he accepted his condition as watchman in the first place he could have never improved his life. He knew that he were in a poor position but did not admit to be in that condition for life time. So he tried and advanced his situation.

To be concluded, people can be in bad situations in life but its not like that to be stucked in that positions for the rest of the life. By sheer will and confidence its possible to improve bad stage of life and turn it into a more happy and successful one.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a clear opinion: “if there is a slightest possibility to do something better for life one should take it.” The examples of workers who endure difficult jobs and a watchman who studies to obtain a government job are relevant and help illustrate the contrast. However, the acceptance view is explained mainly through limited job opportunities, while the improvement view relies on one brief example; neither is fully explored. The watchman’s story would be more persuasive if you explained what practical steps or support made change possible. Develop both sides more evenly and clarify why you believe trying to improve a situation is preferable, while recognising when acceptance may be realistic.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs beginning “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. This makes the overall contrast easy to follow. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, particularly in the first body paragraph, where the discussion moves from family aspirations to job conditions and then to limited vacancies without clearly linking each point. Some connections are also awkward, such as “Most of the people … who faces hard times … this is because.” Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the view it supports. The conclusion repeats the position but could synthesise the two perspectives rather than restating the general idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to discuss work and hardship, including “unsatisfactory job,” “physical strain,” “vacancies,” and “improved his life.” There are also attempts at more expressive phrasing, such as “sheer will and confidence.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “slightiest,” “persuing,” “competitve,” and “watchaman.” Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “admit to be in that condition” and “turn it into a more happy … one.” These do not prevent the main message from being understood, but they limit precision and fluency. Check spelling carefully and learn natural collocations for describing hardship, career change, and personal progress.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional and subordinate structures, as in “If he accepted his condition … he could have never improved his life.” The main ideas remain understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “people doesn’t” should be “people don’t,” “who faces” should be “who face,” and “he were” should be “he was.” The opening opinion sentence also needs clearer punctuation and structure: “In my perspective I believe if…” is difficult to process. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and building complex sentences around one clear main clause; this will improve accuracy without sacrificing variety.

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