Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-02
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 5.0)
Some people believe that it is better to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. However, others think people should try and improve such situations.
On the one hand, accept a bad situations can sometimes be a sensible decisions. Life does not always according to our plans, and certain problems cannot be solve quickly. For example, a person may remain in a low-paying job because they are few employment opportunities in these area. In this case, accepting the situation temporarily can reduce stress and allow the individual to focus on other important aspects of life. Furthermore, by accepting reality rather than constantly worrying about it, people may feel more satisfied and a peace.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 119 words long. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The essay introduces the two views but fails to provide a conclusion or a personal opinion, which is a requirement of the prompt. The ideas presented are relevant but remain significantly under-developed due to the lack of length. To improve, you must ensure you address all parts of the prompt, including a clear personal opinion, and expand your arguments with more detailed examples and explanations to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay shows some logical organization, with a clear introduction and a body paragraph using a transition like 'On the one hand'. However, the lack of a full essay structure—specifically the absence of a second body paragraph and a conclusion—prevents a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For example' and 'Furthermore', but the overall flow is interrupted by the premature ending of the text. To improve, ensure you follow a standard essay structure with distinct paragraphs for each viewpoint and a concluding summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'at a peace' instead of 'at peace'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and collocations related to the topic of personal development and professional life, while ensuring accuracy in your word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the short text. Examples include 'accept a bad situations' (should be 'accepting a bad situation'), 'sensible decisions' (should be 'a sensible decision'), and 'Life does not always according to our plans' (missing verb 'go'). Additionally, 'they are few employment opportunities' should be 'there are few'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex structures. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of gerunds as subjects.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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