Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12
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 6.0)
Life is full of ups and downs. It is often argued that people should accept unfavourable situations, such as dissatisfying employment and financial insecurity, whereas others contend that taking proactive measures to improve situations is a beneficial approach. While acceptance may be sometimes necessary, but I believe that seeking positive changes can bring more reward.
On one hand, accepting difficult situations can be sensible particularly if they are beyond an individual's control. These problems should be addressed wisely because they can be a leading cause for stress and frustration. For instance, if a person is not satisfied by his job and he has some responsibilities then the best choice for him is to accept the situation rather than leaving his job. Because quieting the job will make his situation even more worse.
From the other end, there are compelling reasons to support the idea of trying to improve situations. Remaining in an unsatisfied occupation for a long time can limit personal development and can bring negative effects on a person's quality of life. Rather than remaining in a boring job a person can take this situation as an opportunity to learn new skills and improve his life. For example, beside his job he can learn valuable skills in which he is interested, such as trading or video editing and can gain experience. When he gain confidence that he can pursue his career in that field than he can quiet his boring job. In this way he will succeed in switching his job perfectly instead of facing financial difficulties.
According to me, accepting a situation is a temporary response and working hard to improve is a permanent solution.
In conclusion, accepting bad situations can sometimes be practical, but I believe that actively addressing problems is more beneficial approach. With strong will and determination a bad situation can be changed into an opportunity of learning.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the suggestion of upskilling while in an unsatisfactory job. However, the development of the 'acceptance' side is slightly weaker, relying on a somewhat simplistic example of staying in a job to avoid financial ruin. To reach a higher band, the argument could benefit from more nuanced exploration of why someone might choose acceptance, such as long-term stability or lack of alternatives. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'From the other end', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion, such as the slightly awkward transition 'From the other end' (which should be 'On the other hand') and some repetitive sentence structures. The flow of ideas is generally smooth, though the connection between sentences could be more sophisticated in places.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is sufficient for the task, allowing for clear communication of ideas. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'proactive measures', 'financial insecurity', and 'personal development'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and spelling mistakes, such as 'quieting' instead of 'quitting' and 'more worse' (a double comparative). These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the score. To improve, focus on more precise collocations and ensure accurate spelling of common verbs related to employment.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and comparative structures, such as 'When he gain confidence' (should be 'gains') and 'than he can quiet' (should be 'then'). The use of 'but' after 'While' in the introduction is a common error in complex sentence construction. Despite these errors, the student demonstrates a reasonable command of grammar, and the errors rarely cause confusion for the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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