Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-17

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 5.0)

Some people believe that it is good to accept a bad situation such as unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others believe that it is better to try and improve a critical condition. While opinions remain divided, I firmly contend that it is better to improve the situation. On one hand, there are many reasons why people advocate for unfavorable circumstances. Living in an unwanted environment can lead to stress, anxiety and unhappiness. The foremost justification lies in the fact is that by accepting a bad situation individuals can achieve a sense of mental peace and stop overthinking. For instance, lack of personal education and less experience are the main reasons that reduces the chances of getting better job. These reasons that force the individuals to face the bad circumstances. In

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 131 words. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to address all parts of the task. While you introduce both views and state your position, the development of ideas is severely limited. You mention reasons for accepting a bad situation but do not fully explore the opposing view or provide a balanced discussion. To improve, you must ensure you complete the essay by providing a full discussion of both perspectives and a clear conclusion, while meeting the minimum length requirement to allow for sufficient idea development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization by using transition signals like 'On one hand' and 'For instance'. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to assess the overall progression and paragraphing structure. The flow of ideas is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. To improve, focus on developing each paragraph fully with a clear topic sentence, supporting arguments, and a concluding sentence before moving to the next point. Ensure that your ideas are linked smoothly throughout the entire essay, not just in the opening sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the topic, such as 'unfavorable circumstances' and 'justification'. However, the range is limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'the main reasons that reduces the chances'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning, but it lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. For example, instead of repeating 'bad situation', use terms like 'adverse conditions' or 'challenging circumstances'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'the fact is that by accepting... individuals can achieve' (the 'is' is redundant) and 'reasons that reduces' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete nature of the text limits the assessment of your ability to use a wide range of complex structures accurately. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structures are grammatically sound. Proofreading for small errors like missing articles or incorrect verb forms will significantly enhance your score.

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

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