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.
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, a prospective person should move out of their comfort zone and need to improve the situation rather than stay in bad conditions for a 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 essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for accepting bad situations is supported by the fear of unemployment, but the explanation remains superficial. Similarly, the counter-argument regarding 'moving out of a comfort zone' is a bit vague and lacks concrete examples or deeper analysis. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific reasoning or illustrative examples, ensuring that the connection between the situation and the proposed action is more logically robust.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the one hand', 'In contrast', and 'In conclusion', to signal shifts in the argument. However, the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between discussing job security and the potential for a worse environment in the second paragraph is slightly abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is a bit unclear, such as the phrase 'the above view' which could be more smoothly integrated. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your ideas clearly, such as 'unfavorable circumstances', 'toxic environment', and 'self-respect'. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations, such as 'staying on minor finances' and 'give luxury and easy life to yourself'. These phrases sound unnatural in an academic context. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic terminology. While your vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.
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) and 'the next generation, every person should move out of their comfort zone' (missing article/prepositional phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor issues with sentence construction that occasionally impede the natural flow of ideas. To achieve a higher score, focus on reducing these small errors and increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using more conditional or passive forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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