Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-13

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 7.0)

As far as this topic is concerned, some people believe that it is better to accept a bad situation, while others think that people should try to improve it. In my opinion, although accepting a difficult situation can sometimes be practical, trying to improve it is a better approach.

On the one hand, accepting an unsatisfactory situation can reduce stress and disappointment. Some situations are difficult to change, and people may waste their time and energy by constantly worrying about them. For example, if a person has financial problems, accepting the situation temporarily can help them remain calm and focus on their basic needs. Moreover, people may need to accept certain situations until better opportunities become available.

On the other hand, trying to improve a bad situation can lead to a better future. People can develop new skills, search for better jobs or start a small business to improve their financial condition. For instance, someone who is unhappy with their job can take professional courses and apply for better positions. In this way, taking action can increase confidence and improve a person's quality of life.

In conclusion, although accepting a difficult situation can sometimes be necessary, I believe that trying to improve it is more beneficial. People should accept circumstances that cannot be changed immediately, but they should continue making efforts to create better opportunities for the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—accepting a bad situation versus trying to improve it—and clearly states an own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant, such as reducing stress or developing new skills, and are supported with appropriate examples like financial problems and taking professional courses. However, the text contains 228 words, failing to meet the minimum requirement of 250 words. This under-length impacts the full development of ideas and requires a downward adjustment in the task achievement score. If not for the word count penalty, the task response would comfortably sit at a higher band. As it stands, the limited length means some arguments remain somewhat concise rather than fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical organisation. It is divided into four distinct paragraphs, following a standard and effective IELTS structure with an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting contrasting views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally to guide the reader through the arguments, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'In conclusion'. Referencing is clear throughout the text, and each paragraph maintains a clear central topic. The use of paragraphing and logical connectors meets the criteria for Band 7, showing a clear logical organisation and progression from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'unsatisfactory situation', 'financial condition', 'professional courses', and 'quality of life' are used accurately. There are also attempts at less common lexical items, showing an awareness of appropriate style for an academic context. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, with no noticeable errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is not exceptionally wide or sophisticated, it is more than adequate for the task and shows good control over everyday and semi-formal topic-specific terms, comfortably aligning with a Band 7 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay exhibits a good variety of sentence structures, mixing simple and complex forms effectively. Examples of complex structures include concessive clauses such as 'In my opinion, although accepting a difficult situation can sometimes be practical, trying to improve it is a better approach' and conditional or relative clauses like 'someone who is unhappy with their job can take professional courses'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well throughout. There is good control of grammar, and any minor limitations stem from the relatively short overall length rather than persistent grammatical inaccuracies. The grammar solidly reflects Band 7 performance.

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