Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09

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)

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation and keep going with that, while others think it is better to try and alleviate the situation.

There are different types of people in this world with different mentalities and natures. If we divide them into two broad categories, there are Optimists and Pessimists. In the given paragraph, Pessimists belong to the first category while Optimists belong to the second category.

I strongly agree with the people who believe we should work and try to get ourselves out of the miserable conditions. As humans in this world, the only limitations are in one's mind. A person can always start over again if he is stuck in such a bad situation, and there is only one way out, and that is trying and working hard. For example, If a medical student get an F in one subject in his final year exams, should he stop right there and end his medical career? or should he try to pass the exam and pursue his dream of becoming a healthcare professional? I think the second strategy is logically better and fruitful.

I disagree with the concept of getting stuck in misery, accepting it as fate or taking pleasure out of misery. This is very dangerous and harmful idea. Young people should never get exposed to these types of pessimist ideas. it discourage and demotivates the youth. With the youth accepting and acting on such ideas, societies cease to progress and collapse .

In the end, I think the best way to deal with a bad situation is to get out of it as soon as possible, if one can.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The discussion of 'pessimists' and 'optimists' is a bit simplistic and does not fully explore the nuance of why some people might choose to accept a bad situation (e.g., lack of resources, fear of change, or cultural factors). The example of the medical student is relevant but brief. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed explanations for both perspectives before presenting your own view, ensuring that the arguments are balanced and fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'For example' and 'In the end', to link your thoughts. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Some cohesive devices are used in a somewhat mechanical way. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid, particularly when moving from the discussion of the two views to your own opinion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'alleviate', 'miserable', and 'fruitful'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'keep going with that' (which is informal) and 'taking pleasure out of misery'. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms that are appropriate for a formal essay, avoiding overly conversational phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'If a medical student get an F' (subject-verb agreement), 'these types of pessimist ideas' (should be 'pessimistic'), and 'it discourage and demotivates' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of question marks and capitalization. To achieve a higher score, you need to increase the frequency of error-free sentences and ensure that complex structures are used with greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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