Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-24

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 6.5)

Money plays a vital role in an individual's life. Some people consider that it is better to acquire an unfulfilling career or low-paying employment, while others consider that to actively work on making improvements. This essay will discuss both perspectives, although I believe that making efforts to improve an unsatisfactory situation is a more beneficial approach.

On the one hand, there are several benefits to resolving this situation. Firstly, taking action helps individuals move closer to personal fulfillment, rather than staying stuck individual should try to improve their bad situation to get a more satisfying life. Secondly, improving the situation often leads to better career prospects as upskilling or seeking new opportunities can result in rewarding positions. Additionally, overcoming a difficult or worse condition boosts self-confidence by successfully resolving a challenge, such as finances, prove one's capability and self-belief.

For instance, someone who manages to pay off debt through their budgeting often feels a renewed sense of control.

On the other hand, staying in a worse situation could feel uneasy because changing the situation could take more time, efforts and resources than expected. For example, someone in a low-paying job while studying for further qualifications may accept the situation temporarily, focusing their energy on long-term goal.

In conclusion, although accepting a bad situation can sometimes be a practical short-term choice, when changing it requires considerable time, effort and resources, I believe that making efforts to improve one's circumstances is a more beneficial approach. By taking action, individuals can achieve greater job satisfaction, financial stability and self-confidence, which can ultimately lead to a more secure and fulfilling future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The argument for accepting a bad situation is underdeveloped, as the example provided is brief and lacks depth. While the position is consistent, the explanation of why one might choose to accept a situation is less persuasive than the counter-argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are explored with equal depth and that the supporting examples are fully integrated into the logical flow of the paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', and 'Additionally' are used to guide the reader. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical or awkward, such as the sentence 'rather than staying stuck individual should try to improve their bad situation'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, which disrupts the progression of ideas. Improving the transition between sentences within paragraphs would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'upskilling', 'personal fulfillment', and 'financial stability'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'acquire an unfulfilling career' (usually 'accept' or 'endure') and 'worse condition' (which sounds slightly unnatural in this context). The range is sufficient for the task, but more precise and varied vocabulary would elevate the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('focusing their energy on long-term goal') and awkward phrasing ('rather than staying stuck individual should try...'). Some sentences are slightly fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.

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

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