Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-31

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)

It is belived that people often argue about the bad situation they face due to their unsatisfactory job or any other problems which should be accepted while other belives that they should try and improve such situations. this essay will dicuss both views before presenting my opinion.

At first, many people face tough situations from which they are unable get through and they abide it for the peace of mind. Bad job hours, shortage of money, problems related to health, etc. are some problems which most of the people faces and which they are scared of. For instance, a neighbour who used to live 3 house away from me once faced problem related to money. He accepted it by implying all the blame on fate. Fate had nothing to do with it still gets blame.

Furthermore, Their are some people who dosen't stand back when facing problems as they are trying to improve and get past the bad situation. they seek for better opportunity, higher satisfaction and personal growth. A business man faces many problems during his career but what makes him stand against all the problems is his will to improve and try. this signifies the their ambition and determination towards thier future.

In my opinion, while acceptance is necessary in the short term, continuous effort to improve one's situation is healthier in long term approch. a balanced mindset works best accept what cannot be changed immediately, but remain committed to working towards a better future and an satisfactory life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The example regarding the neighbour is anecdotal and lacks the depth required for a high-scoring academic essay. While the prompt asks to discuss both views, the arguments remain quite general and could be better supported with more analytical reasoning rather than simple descriptions. The conclusion is relevant but brief. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph explores the implications of the arguments more thoroughly, moving beyond basic observations to provide a more sophisticated analysis of why people choose to accept or improve their circumstances.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Furthermore' and 'In my opinion', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. There are instances where the flow is slightly hindered by sentence-level errors, such as the lack of capitalisation at the start of sentences (e.g., 'this essay', 'they seek'). While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. Overall, the structure is clear enough to follow without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. However, there is a lack of range and precision. Phrases like 'bad situation' and 'problems' are repeated frequently, which limits the lexical variety. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'abide it' (instead of 'endure it') and 'long term approch' (spelling error). To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to professional and personal development, and avoid repetitive, simplistic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('most of the people faces', 'Their are some people who dosen't'), missing articles, and inconsistent capitalisation at the beginning of sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from achieving a higher score. To improve, the student should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with verb forms and sentence punctuation, and attempt to use a wider range of complex structures with greater control.

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

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