Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-26

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)

The debate between accepting a bad situation as your fate and trying hard to come out of it is widely spreaded among the people of this age. In my point of view, one should thrive for the improvement of any bad situation in a life because your current condition is based on the efforts you made in your past. To improve yourself is highly dependant on the efforts you will make in the future.

People who accept a bad situation having a lethargic mindset and they do not want to put efforts in their lives. As a result, they always left behind from their peers. This ideology gives them an easy escape from putting extra efforts. As a human being, you can write your own fate based on the hardwork you do to achieve your goals. For instance, if we take an example of world fastes bowler Shoaib Akhtar had a physical disorder in his feet but ignoring this disability he worked hard and appeared as the most dangerous fast bowler in cricket history. It proves that human can beat any bad situation.

On the other hand, people with growth mindset will never accept any bad situation for a long - term. They do an effort at their best to come out of it. Having an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money is temporary if you preceive it as a situation not your fate. People with a progressive mindset always fight with such kind of situations and they will shine in their future.

In conclusion, every mankind has the god gifted ability to resolve problems and avoid bad situations in their lives. Progressive and growth mindset ignite this ability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you argue that people should try to improve difficult circumstances, and the example of Shoaib Akhtar supports the idea that persistence can overcome obstacles. You also refer to both views, but the discussion is uneven. The view that people may accept a bad situation is mainly described as laziness or an “easy escape”; you do not explain why acceptance might sometimes be reasonable, such as when circumstances cannot be changed or when acceptance protects wellbeing. The examples and claims about people with a growth mindset are also broad rather than fully explained. To strengthen the response, present a fair reason for each view and develop your opinion with specific reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two perspectives, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. In the paragraph about acceptance, the claims that people are lethargic, fall behind peers, and seek an easy escape repeat a similar point rather than building a sequence of distinct reasons. The example about the bowler is introduced with a long, awkward sentence that makes the connection harder to follow. Use clearer topic sentences, link each example explicitly to the argument, and vary transitions so the organisation feels less formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “unsatisfactory job,” “growth mindset,” “disability,” and “resolve problems.” These choices make your main ideas understandable, and you attempt some less common expressions. However, several word-choice, collocation, and spelling errors reduce precision: “widely spreaded,” “thrive for the improvement,” “hardwork,” and “preceive” are not accurate forms. Some phrases, such as “fight with such kind of situations” and “shine in their future,” are also unnatural in this context. Aim for more precise, natural combinations and check spelling and word forms. This would make your argument sound more fluent without requiring more complicated vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional idea in “if you perceive it as a situation not your fate,” and most of the message remains understandable. However, some errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and verb forms make parts less clear. For example, “People who accept a bad situation having a lethargic mindset” is not a complete, well-formed clause; “they always left behind” needs an appropriate verb form and passive construction; and “if we take an example of world fastes bowler … had” combines incompatible sentence patterns. Practise building complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement, tense, and articles. More accurate control of these patterns would make your complex sentences clearer.

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