Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-29

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)

Many of us believes accepting a bad situation, such as shortage of money or an unsatisfactory job is best for us, while some believes that try to improve such situations are better. In my opinion, I think we should never give up on trying to improve our life.

On the first hand, a person goes through many phrases to achieve something big in their life. The hardwork behind getting a job is unexplainable, so even if someone land to an unsatisfactory job but gets a well paid off its better than being unemployed and suffer to live. Similarly, on the raising time of living cost everywhere if someone faces shortage of money, they should work on limiting their expenses and better budget planning. Sometimes, accepting the situation is better option for people with low emotional regulation, and perspective. However, in my point of view, it is better to try and improve such difficult situation of life.

On the other hand, people are meant to work to improve their lifestyle. For generations human are working to have a better and easier life. A person can get an unsatisfactory job, but if he keeps doing it, he will only remain mentally depressed. So, even the job gives him a nice amount of salary, he still stays unhappy. Therefore, its better to work a bit harder to get a job where he is both satisfied with work environment and pay off. Hence, I also agree with this opinion.

In conclude, we may get struck in a bad situation but we should keep working to change our life insead of just accept reality and blame the fate.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for trying to improve difficult circumstances, especially in the opening and conclusion. The discussion of accepting a situation includes relevant examples about keeping a paid job and managing limited money, while the opposing view explains how an unsatisfactory job can affect wellbeing. However, the ideas are only partly developed: the claim that acceptance may suit people with “low emotional regulation” is not explained, and the reasons for improving a situation remain quite general. The conclusion repeats your position rather than drawing the discussion together. To strengthen the response, explain the circumstances in which acceptance may be sensible and support your preferred approach with more specific reasoning. The response meets the task’s length requirement; eight words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and linking phrases can feel mechanical or confusing. For example, “On the first hand” and “On the other hand” introduce the views, but “However, in my point of view” shifts position before the next paragraph, making the organisation less controlled. “Hence, I also agree with this opinion” is also unclear about which opinion you mean. Use topic sentences that identify each paragraph’s main claim, and make references such as “this view” explicit. More varied, accurate transitions would help ideas connect smoothly rather than simply marking stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to discuss employment, finances and wellbeing, including phrases such as “shortage of money,” “limiting their expenses” and “mentally depressed.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “emotional regulation.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which makes parts of the argument less natural: “land to an unsatisfactory job,” “well paid off,” “raising time of living cost,” and “get struck in a bad situation.” Spelling and word-form errors such as “insead” and “hardwork” also reduce control. Aim to learn common word partnerships and check spelling and forms when editing. More precise phrasing would let you express the same relevant ideas with greater clarity and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “even if someone land to an unsatisfactory job” and a contrast introduced by “while.” This shows an effort to vary sentence forms, but errors occur often enough to make some sentences difficult to process. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent (“Many of us believes,” “some believes,” and “human are working”), and verb forms are sometimes incorrect (“that try to improve” and “instead of just accept”). Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “accepting the situation is better option.” Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb, then review articles and punctuation. Greater accuracy in these patterns would make your argument easier to follow.

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

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