Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-22

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 6.0)

Although there is a school of thought that it is better to try and improve such a situation, an alternative perspective contends that it is best to accept a bad situation. While both arguments possess a certain degree of validity, I am firmly of the opinion that we have to improve our situation. This essay will critically examine both perspectives before elucidating why I subscribe to this particular standpoint.

To commence with, there are several compelling arguments in favour of enhancing the conditions. First and foremost, our grudge for earning money is never-ending. This can primarily be attributed to the fact that people want to earn more and more money. A pertinent example of this can be seen in a multinational company. They try to expand their net worth year by year. Consequently, we cannot be satisfied with our life. Furthermore, another noteworthy consideration is that sometimes situations are beyond our control. In essence, no one can find a satisfactory job. Many people have family responsibility. This situation is particularly significant because of lack of education. Hence, advocates of this perspective maintain that it is best to accept bad situations. Last but not least, keeping an unsatisfactory job can provide financial security, which constitutes another sub-financial argument in support of this position. Given that changing jobs can be risky, particularly when you have responsibility for family. It is reasonable to suggest that accepting reality can help people to adapt to the situations.

Nevertheless, the opposing perspective also warrants careful consideration. One of the most compelling arguments is that an unsatisfactory job can affect happiness. The underlying reason is a lack of motivation for work and poor work-life satisfaction. For instance, accepting everything may prevent growth. This, in turn, can lead to a better future. Moreover, it is worth emphasising that challenges can motivate personal growth. This is largely attributed to the fact that improving financial condition is more important. As a consequence, difficult times create personal growth. This may have far-reaching implications for individuals.

In conclusion, although both accepting bad situations and fighting against bad situations are underpinned by credible arguments, I remain firmly convinced that we have to fight against bad situations. This is primarily because of your safe financial future, coupled with satisfaction in life. Ultimately, a balanced consideration of the issue suggests that at least we can try to change the bad situations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on accepting versus improving a bad situation, and clearly states the writer's own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are presented and supported, though some of the arguments in the second paragraph become slightly confused regarding why people accept bad situations versus why they try to change them (for example, mixing up earning money with a lack of education and family responsibilities). Despite these occasional logical slips within the body paragraphs, a clear position is maintained throughout, satisfying the requirements for Band 6.5 or 7.0. Because the core arguments are addressed and extended, it aligns best with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression and is logically organised into paragraphs with distinct functions, such as the introductory framing, body paragraphs for both views, and a concluding stance. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the text, such as 'To commence with', 'First and foremost', and 'Nevertheless'. However, referencing and transitions are occasionally strained or slightly mechanical, particularly in the second body paragraph where sentences like 'This situation is particularly significant because of lack of education' feel somewhat disconnected from the surrounding text. Paragraphing is used appropriately, resulting in a solid performance that fits Band 6.5, rounded to Band 7 for effective overall logical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and phrasal phrases such as 'school of thought', 'multinational company', and 'work-life satisfaction'. However, there are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations throughout the text. For instance, the phrase 'our grudge for earning money' is unnatural, and 'sub-financial argument' is non-standard. Word choice errors occur periodically, such as using 'responsibility' instead of 'responsibilities', but they do not impede overall communication. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 6 descriptor, showing an adequate range with some persistent errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses and introductory dependent clauses, such as 'Although there is a school of thought that...'. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with generally good control over basic punctuation. However, several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing persist, such as 'Given that changing jobs can be risky, particularly when you have responsibility for family. It is reasonable to suggest...' which fragments a dependent clause into a separate sentence. Other minor errors like 'lack of education' missing an article occur. These errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly in the Band 6 category.

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