Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. On the other hand, some people argue that it is better to try and improve these situations. In my opinion, people should try to improve their situation instead of accepting it all the time. accepting a bad situation can sometimes be a good option. When people are facing financial problems or a bad job, they may not have many choices. For example, a person who have a low salary may continue doing the same job because he need money for his family. If he leave the job without finding another one, it can create more problems. Also, accepting a difficult situation can make people more patient and help them to deal with problems calmly. Sometimes, situations are temporary and they can become better with time. trying to improve a bad situation can bring better results in the future. If a person is not satisfied with his job, he can learn new skills and search for a better job. Similarly, people who have shortage of money can find part-time work or start a small business. It may be difficult in the beginning, but it can improve their financial condition. Trying to change the situation also gives people confidence and motivation to achieve their goals. And at the end i can say that if you don’t have the urgent need of money you can improve your your skills and get the better opportunities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide examples like 'learning new skills' or 'starting a small business', the explanation remains quite brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on these points with more depth or specific hypothetical scenarios. The structure is logical, but the transition between the two views could be more clearly demarcated with better paragraphing, as the current text is essentially one large block, which makes it harder for the reader to follow the shift in perspective.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is coherent, and the progression of ideas is generally logical. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Also', 'Similarly'). Furthermore, the lack of clear paragraph breaks significantly impacts the readability and the 'skilful paragraphing' requirement of higher bands. You should ensure that each main idea—the argument for accepting a situation, the argument for improving it, and your own opinion—is contained within its own distinct paragraph to improve the overall structure and flow of your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'bad situation', 'good option', and 'problems' throughout the text. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated synonyms and collocations. For instance, instead of 'bad situation', you could use 'adverse circumstances' or 'challenging predicament'. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'have shortage of money' instead of 'experience a shortage of money'. Expanding your range of academic vocabulary will help you achieve a higher score.
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. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'a person who have' (should be 'has') and 'he need' (should be 'needs'), as well as 'If he leave' (should be 'leaves'). Additionally, there are punctuation and capitalization errors, such as 'at the end i can say'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent capitalization is essential for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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