Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-16

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 accepting a difficult situation such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money, while others think it is better to try and improve such situations. Although accepting such situation can be sometimes practical, but i believe that people should work for the development of their life.

One the other hand accepting such situation can be beneficial when people have less control over it, like if a person lose her job or have money crisis, he can not immediately change his current situation. In addition accepting reality can help people remain calm and focus what can they do realistically rather than becoming discouraged by their difficulties. Trying to start a new job or business may lead to further financial difficulties. Therefore, staying in current situation can be a safer option.

On the other hand, making a efforts to improve a difficult situation can lead to better long term outcomes. People who are dissatisfied with their jobs, they can acquire new skills, can improve them selves for better opportunities and for better employment. If the problem is for financial stability then they should think for alternative income source, it will prevent money crisis. Therefore, i believe that taking positive action can more beneficial than simply accepting unsatisfactory situation.

In conclusion, accepting a difficult situation can be best for sometimes, but taking action can create better opportunities and lead to a more satisfying life in the long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the main points are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the argument regarding 'financial stability' could have been supported with a more concrete example or a more detailed explanation of the long-term benefits. The conclusion is also quite brief. To improve, ensure you expand on your reasoning with more depth and provide sufficient word count to fully explore the prompt's implications.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'Therefore,' and 'On the other hand.' However, there are some issues with the use of these devices; for example, you start two consecutive paragraphs with 'On the other hand,' which is repetitive and confusing for the reader. Additionally, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your paragraph transitions are smoother and more varied.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'financial stability' and 'unsatisfactory job.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'money crisis' (better as 'financial crisis') and 'improve them selves' (should be 'themselves'). There is also some repetition of basic words like 'situation' and 'difficult.' To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'if a person lose her job' (subject-verb agreement error: 'loses'), 'focus what can they do' (word order error: 'focus on what they can do'), and 'can more beneficial' (missing verb: 'can be more beneficial'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent sentence structure to improve accuracy.

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

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