Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-29
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)
The discussion between accepting the hard times and trying to change the unfavorable circumstances shows the fundamental difference of opinions in human beings. Staying on minor finances and in bad condition is an approach of one side, but there is another group that wants to change the condition and improve their lives. I shall discuss both views, and then I will put in my opinion.
On the one hand, one group focuses on just accepting the hard conditions and staying with an unsatisfied job. According to them, employees should focus on staying in a job, whether it is bad because there is a shortage of jobs, and if a worker wants to resign, then it's hard for him to get a new job. Additionally, there may be chances that the next company environment is worse than the previous one. Moreover, excessive finance creates more mental pressure, as most individuals lack knowledge of how to take, spend, and expand finance.
In contrast, opponents of the above view have different opinions. To give luxury and easy life to yourself and for the next generation, every person should move out of their comfort zone. Even in a comfort zone, a person gets paid to fulfill daily needs of life with bad behavior of staff, but for the long term, a person should need to know where to invest money to increase income. As in the current era of technology, a person only needs skills to get any job related to that skill. If you face any toxic environment in the company, then leave it because self-respect is above all.
In conclusion, for broader prespective person should move out of their comfort zone and need to improve the situation rather than stay in bad conditions for long time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'excessive finance' creating mental pressure is unclear and lacks logical connection to the prompt. The discussion of the second view is better supported, but the points remain somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis for each perspective rather than relying on general statements. The position is consistent, but the overall depth of the argument is restricted by the brevity of the supporting points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In contrast', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. For example, the transition between the job market and the concept of 'excessive finance' in the second paragraph is abrupt and lacks a smooth logical link. Referencing is generally clear, but the essay would benefit from a more sophisticated range of linking words to improve the overall flow and coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'unfavorable circumstances' and 'toxic environment', which are used appropriately. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'staying on minor finances' and 'give luxury and easy life to yourself', which sound unnatural. The range is sufficient to discuss the topic, but more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary would be needed to reach a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'a person should need to know' (redundant modal usage), 'for broader prespective person should' (missing article), and 'stay in bad conditions for long time' (missing article). Punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence structure occasionally lacks the flexibility required for higher bands. The errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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