Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-14

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)

Introduction

Nowadays, unsatisfactory job is an important issue in our daily life. Some people believe that it has many benefits, while others think that it can create some problems. In my opinion, this topic has both positive and negative effects, and it depends on how people deal with it.

Body Paragraph 1

To begin with, there are several reasons why shortage money is important. The main reason is that it can have a direct effect on people and society. Many people face this situation in their daily lives, and it can change their lifestyle in different ways. For example, it may affect people’s work, education, health, or relationships. In addition, young people and families can also be influenced by this situation. Another important point is that job can provide some useful benefits. It can make life easier, save time, and give people better opportunities.

Body Paragraph 2

On the other hand, unisatisfactory job can also have some negative effects. If people use it in the wrong way, it may create problems for individuals and society. Therefore, people should have proper knowledge and make responsible decisions. The government, schools, and families can also play an important role by providing guidance and support. For instance, simple rules and better awareness can help people make better choices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, shortage money is an important issue that should not be ignored. It has both advantages and disadvantages. If people use it responsibly and society works together, the negative effects can be reduced and the situation can be improved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to discuss the prompt regarding accepting a bad situation versus trying to improve it, but it fails to properly engage with the core premise of the prompt. Instead of discussing whether to accept or improve unsatisfactory jobs or financial shortages, the essay digresses into vague generalisations about the effects of these issues and how society should handle them. The student provides a position in the introduction, but the body paragraphs do not adequately develop arguments contrasting the two views. The ideas presented are repetitive and lack specific task-related extension, which corresponds to the Band 5 descriptor where the task is addressed only partially and ideas are limited.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the logical progression is weak because the sentences within the body paragraphs lack clear connections to the main topic. While some basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used, referencing is often confusing. For instance, in Body Paragraph 2, the pronoun 'it' in 'If people use it in the wrong way' lacks a clear antecedent, as the paragraph discusses an 'unisatisfactory job'. This reflects Band 5, where there is some organisation but no clear overall progression and cohesive devices are sometimes inadequate.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates a very limited range of vocabulary, frequently repeating words such as 'situation', 'important', 'people', and 'effects' throughout the response. There are also noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'shortage money' instead of 'shortage of money' or 'financial shortage', and the spelling error 'unisatisfactory job'. These errors and the restricted vocabulary make the text repetitive and occasionally impede the reader's understanding, fitting the Band 5 descriptor where the vocabulary is minimally adequate with noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and repetitive patterns like 'It can make life easier, save time, and give people better opportunities.' When the student attempts more complex structures, they are often basic or contain grammatical lapses, such as missing articles ('shortage money') and awkward phrasing. Although punctuation is generally acceptable and basic sentences are often grammatically correct, frequent errors in article usage and lack of structural variety place this response firmly at Band 5.

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

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