Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-10

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 4.0)

Some people argue that despite bad financial conditions people must strive to improve their circumstances while others reject this notion and argue that we should accept our fate. In my opinion, people should work hard to improve their financial situations.

On the one hand, some people consider to live their normal life despite unsatisfactory job and poor financial conditions. For example, if someone want to

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You introduce both positions—accepting difficult circumstances and trying to improve them—and state your own view clearly: “people should work hard to improve their financial situations.” However, the response develops only the beginning of the first view, with an unfinished example (“if someone want to”), and does not explain the opposing view or provide a complete discussion. The essay is also substantially below the required 250 words, so there is not enough relevant explanation or support to address all parts of the task. To improve, complete the example, discuss why some people accept hardship, explain why you favour trying to improve it, and support each point with specific reasoning or examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic organisational signal in the opening: the first paragraph introduces the issue and your opinion, while “On the one hand” begins a body paragraph. This gives the reader an initial sense of direction. However, the response stops mid-example, so there is no completed development, contrasting paragraph, or conclusion to show how the ideas progress. The linking phrase “On the one hand” also promises a corresponding “On the other hand” section that never appears. Build a complete structure with an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Use linking expressions to show relationships between fully explained ideas, rather than relying on paragraph openers alone.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “financial conditions,” “improve their circumstances,” “accept our fate,” and “unsatisfactory job.” These phrases make the general subject understandable and show an attempt to express the two positions. However, the range is limited by the short response, and some combinations are not natural or precise: “consider to live their normal life” is awkward, while “reject this notion” is less clear than directly describing acceptance of hardship. Develop a wider set of topic-specific expressions and check how words combine. For example, you could refer to “financial hardship,” “job dissatisfaction,” or “take practical steps to improve their circumstances.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The opening includes a reasonably controlled complex sentence using “while” to contrast the two views, and the opinion is expressed in a clear simple sentence. There is also an attempt to introduce a conditional example. However, the response is too brief to demonstrate a sustained range of sentence structures, and the example is incomplete: “if someone want to” needs both subject–verb agreement (“wants”) and a completed clause. In “some people consider to live,” the verb pattern is also incorrect; use “consider living” or “consider it best to live.” Practise completing conditional sentences and checking verb forms and patterns. A fuller response would give you more opportunity to show accurate control across varied sentence types.

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

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