Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-20

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 5.5)

It is often argued that it is beneficial to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Some people believe that it is better to try and improve such situations. I am in complete agreement with this asseration, and the following essay will outline the primary arguments supporting this view.

One significant reason for my opinion is that accepting a difficult situation can reduce stress and provide stability. This is because individuals may be afraid of losing their current jobs. Moreover accepting reality can help people avoid unnecessary stress and finding a new job can be difficult because of competation. For example, a person who has family responsibilities may continue working in an unsatisfactory job because it provides a regular salary to support their family. This clearly demonstrates that accepting a difficult situation can sometimes provide financial security and peace of mind.

Another important factor is that taking action can create better opportunities and improve quality of life. This is primarily because people can learn new skills to find better jobs. They can look for additional sources of income. In addition, working towards goals increases confidence and independence. For instance, an employee who is unhappy with their salary can learn new skills and apply for better-paying jobs instead of remaining in the same position. Consequently, improving financial conditions can provide better education, healthcare and living standards.

In conclusion, although both accepting and improving difficult situations have advantages. I frimly believe that acceptance can be useful when circumstances are beyond our control.However, people should take practical steps to improve their lives whenever possible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear opinion in the introduction and conclusion, and your examples about family responsibilities and seeking better-paid work are relevant. However, the discussion is unbalanced: the first body paragraph explains why accepting a difficult situation may help, while the second develops improvement more fully, and the opposing view is not explored in much depth. Some reasoning remains general, such as saying that learning skills can lead to better jobs without explaining how people might manage the risks or costs involved. The response also contains 243 words, so it is 7 words below the required minimum; the 24 words copied from the prompt are not counted. Develop both views more evenly and extend the supporting explanation for each.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs each focus on a main reason. Linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “For example,” and “Consequently” help show relationships between ideas. However, the overall progression is weakened because the introduction promises arguments supporting improvement, while the first body paragraph mainly supports acceptance. Some links feel mechanical, and the conclusion begins with “although” but uses a full stop before completing the contrast, interrupting the flow. Improve the connection between the stated position and each paragraph, and use transitions to show the relationship between the two views rather than simply adding points.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “financial security,” “family responsibilities,” “additional sources of income,” and “living standards.” These phrases communicate the main ideas clearly, and some choices are appropriately specific. There are, however, spelling errors such as “asseration,” “competation,” and “frimly,” as well as some repetitive wording around “difficult situation” and “improve.” A few expressions could be more precise or natural; for example, “accepting reality” is broad in this context, and “better education” could be expressed more specifically. Check spelling carefully and vary repeated terms while choosing collocations that precisely describe the situation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the conditional-style explanation “because individuals may be afraid of losing their current jobs” and the relative clause “a person who has family responsibilities.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. In “can help people avoid unnecessary stress and finding a new job,” the verb forms are not parallel; use “avoid … and find …”. The conclusion’s “although” clause is left incomplete by a full stop after “advantages,” and “However” needs a space after the preceding full stop. There is also a comma missing after the introductory “Moreover.” Review parallel structures and clause boundaries to make the writing more consistently controlled.

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