Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

People have different views about whether they should accept difficult circumstancesor make an effort change them. While some people believe that accapting a bad situation is the best opinion, other things that people should takeaction to improve their lives. In many opinion although acceptance can sometimes be necessary, people should generally try to improve their circumstances.

On the other hand, people can often improve their circumstances by taking practical action. Remaining in an unsatisfactory situation for a long period may prevent individuals from achieving their personal and professional goals. For instance, an employee who dislikes their job could acquire new skills, search for alternative employment, or negotiate better working conditions. Likewise, someone experiencing financial difficulties could learn new skills, find additional sources of income, or develop a long-term financial plan. Although these steps may require considerable effort and involve some risk, they can create better opportunities in the future.

In my opinion, the best approach is neither to accept every problem passively nor to attempt to change every situation immediately. People should first consider whether the situation can realistically be improved and then take practical steps when possible. Acceptance can be appropriate when circumstances are temporary or largely beyond one’s control, but persistent problems should generally be addressed rather than simply endured.

In conclusion, accepting a bad situation can provide stability when change is difficult or unrealistic, whereas attempting to improve one’s circumstances can lead to greater opportunities and satisfaction

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—accepting difficult circumstances versus attempting to improve them—and provides a clear personal opinion throughout the essay. Ideas are well-supported, particularly in the second body paragraph where concrete examples like employees acquiring new skills or individuals managing financial difficulties are presented. However, a strict length penalty must be applied because the response contains 240 words, falling short of the required 250-word minimum specified in the instructions. This slight under-length prevents the task achievement score from reaching higher bands despite the quality of the content. To achieve a higher score, the student must ensure the text consistently meets or exceeds the minimum word count by expanding further on the initial arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs exploring different angles, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments, as seen with phrases like 'On the other hand', 'For instance', 'Likewise', and 'In my opinion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. Referencing is generally clear and straightforward, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent. While cohesion is sometimes slightly mechanical, the overall structure supports a coherent flow of thought.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The writer uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. There are successful attempts to incorporate less common lexical items and collocations, such as 'unsatisfactory situation', 'alternative employment', 'negotiate better working conditions', and 'persistently problems'. However, there are a few noticeable typographical and spelling errors that detract from precision, such as 'circumstancesor' (missing space), 'accapting' (spelling of accepting), 'opinion' instead of 'options', and 'takeaction'. Furthermore, the phrase 'In many opinion' contains a grammatical slip for 'In my opinion'. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Complex structures are attempted and often handled well, such as conditional and concessive clauses in sentences like 'While some people believe that accepting a bad situation is the best opinion, other things that people should take action to improve their lives.' There are, however, some noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'other things that people' (which appears to be a typo or slip for 'others think that people') and minor punctuation issues. Despite these errors, the majority of sentences are understandable, and the grammatical control is adequate to ensure that communication is rarely impeded by structural flaws.

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