Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-26

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)

While it is argued that accepting a bad situation such as unsatisfactory job or shortage of money is best. And other believed that it is better to try and make those situation improved. In my opinion, although those bad things make the person stronger, I believe that rather than accepting those things it's better to improve and try to change the situation around you.

On the one hand, there is a valid argument that people should accept the bad situation whether it is a unsatisfied job or financial issue. Some situation are unable to solved, if someone has a limited qualification than they will get the low pay according to it so they have to accept the situation. However, accepting the unsatisfactory situation may prevent people from looking for the better opportunities they may get in future.

On the other hand I side with those who are willing to improve their situation in life. Because it gives you more opportunities if you keep trying not only being relied on current job also by learning new skills, searching for new ideas those things will lead you to success one day. For instance; Mark Zuckerberg won't have been successful if he would have accept his bad situation around him, Facebook won't been build if he didn't rely only on his job not on other ideas of making something that connect the whole world through the phone.

In Conclusion, accepting the bad situation at some point are good because not everything need to be solved but being stuck in the same loop hole will prevent the people from the opportunities they can get after trying learning skills and not giving up idea.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The argument regarding accepting bad situations is under-developed, relying on a brief mention of limited qualifications. The example of Mark Zuckerberg is relevant but lacks clarity in its explanation, as the phrasing is confusing and does not fully support the point about overcoming adversity. To improve, you should expand on your reasoning with more specific, logical steps rather than relying on general statements. While the position is clear throughout, the depth of analysis needs to be increased to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'In conclusion', but the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. For example, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the use of 'those things' without a precise antecedent. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'unsatisfied job' instead of 'unsatisfactory job' and 'loop hole' used incorrectly to describe a situation. You rely on simple, repetitive vocabulary throughout the essay. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to career development and personal growth. Avoid using informal or imprecise phrasing, and focus on using words that accurately convey your intended meaning in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Some situation are unable to solved'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'Mark Zuckerberg won't have been successful if he would have accept'), and sentence fragments (e.g., 'And other believed that...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of semicolons and commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like tense consistency and pluralisation before attempting more complex structures.

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

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