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 response 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 the 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 your arguments and the prompt is more robust and fully explored.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In contrast,' and 'In conclusion' are used to signal the structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'the above view' or the transition into the second body paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'unfavorable circumstances,' 'toxic environment,' and 'prospective person.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'staying on minor finances' and 'give luxury and easy life to yourself.' These choices slightly hinder the precision of your argument. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary that fits the formal academic tone required for IELTS Task 2.
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) and 'the next generation, every person should move out' (missing article/prepositional clarity). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but some sentences are slightly clunky. To achieve a higher score, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure that your subject-verb agreement and article usage are more consistent throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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