Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Individuals dealing with problems such as unsatisfactory jobs and a shortage of money should accept what happens rather than improve the bad situation. I am of the opinion that we should improve our situation.

When we are dealing with difficulties such as problems in the job that needs to improve, we better take positive criticism this is to accept that we are not perfect and we as human makes mistakes and when we have a chance to improve then we do our best with no regrets do it improve your performance because as we do it everyday we are learning and trying to be better then it will shown to our inner self and also to our surroundings, but if we did not try our part to improve then how we will know if we make good on the second time evaluation, however if we do still our best then still the ratings of our job is unsatisfactory then we need to think maybe this is not for us, we can try to find what suited to our worth and what we really like.

Additionally, having a shortage of money doesnt define our worth as a person this will motivate us in a positive way to work harder for us and for our family. We can do a lot of things so that we earn or we can get good money, like we can sell, we can do online business, become a youtuber if we are not shy type, and also we can work any job we want. However, if we are still working and not enough for our salary for the daily expenses people will have a choice either to work in a foreign country or find a job which has a good salary. There are a lot of things or opportunities that we can do if we are having dreams in life. and we have good attitudes like discipline, responsibility, not giving up easily, then we as humans we can get what we want later on.

In conclusion, It is better to try our best to improve and do better to improve our bad situations in life rather than do nothing or avoid it.

while we are still able and alive we can change our bad situation to the best one.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the discussion on 'shortage of money' lists several generic ways to earn money (e.g., 'become a youtuber') rather than exploring the underlying philosophy of accepting versus improving one's situation. The argument is often repetitive, and the connection between the points made and the prompt's core tension is occasionally lost. To reach a higher band, you should focus on deeper analysis of the implications of these two mindsets rather than just listing examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the internal flow is frequently disrupted by run-on sentences and a lack of clear cohesive devices. Many sentences are linked by commas or 'and' rather than appropriate transition words or subordinating conjunctions. For example, the second paragraph is essentially one long, rambling sentence that makes it difficult for the reader to follow the logical progression of your argument. Using more varied linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in contrast' would significantly improve the clarity and structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally functional but limited in range. You rely on basic terms like 'bad situation', 'good money', and 'do our best' repeatedly. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. While your meaning is generally clear, the lack of precision in word choice prevents a higher score. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to the topic, such as 'financial hardship', 'professional development', or 'resilience'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding sentence structure. You often use comma splices and run-on sentences, such as '...we are learning and trying to be better then it will shown to our inner self and also to our surroundings, but if we did not try...'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate, which can occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Focusing on writing shorter, grammatically correct sentences would be a good starting point for improvement.

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

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