Recently Asked IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay: Should People Accept a Bad Situation or Try to Improve It? (Band 7+ Sample Answer & Analysis)
How to Write a Band 7+ Discuss Both Views Essay
A practical, step-by-step breakdown of one of the most recently asked IELTS and PTE essay types — with a complete sample response and trainer commentary.
What You Are Asked to Write
This question has appeared in recent IELTS and PTE sittings. Before writing a single word, understand exactly what it demands.
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.
Notice that the question has three demands built into one sentence: discuss the first view, discuss the second view, and give your own opinion. All three carry equal weight in the examiner's scoring.
The Real Difficulty Is Not Language
Most candidates who score below Band 7 are not struggling with grammar. They are struggling with ideas.
Explaining why people should work to improve their lives is straightforward. Almost everyone instinctively feels that improving your situation is a good thing. But explaining, fairly and convincingly, why someone might choose to accept a difficult situation — without dismissing that view — is where most candidates fall short.
When one paragraph is thin and the other is well-developed, the essay feels unbalanced. The examiner notices this immediately. Task Response — the most important of the four marking criteria — drops as a result.
Five Errors That Keep Candidates Below Band 7
Recognising these patterns in your own writing is the first step toward correcting them.
A strong first paragraph followed by a weak second — or vice versa — signals an unbalanced response. Both perspectives must receive genuine development.
Writing "this view is completely wrong" inside Body Paragraph 1 is not a discussion — it is an argument. The examiner expects both sides to be explained fairly before any judgment is made.
Writing "some people accept bad situations because they have no choice" and stopping there is not sufficient development. Weak ideas cannot be rescued by good grammar.
Saying "people can earn more money" and then "people can get a better salary" in the same paragraph provides only one idea, not two. Each reason must introduce genuinely new content.
The question specifically says "give your own opinion." An essay that discusses both sides but never commits to a position will score lower on Task Response, regardless of how well it is written.
The Paragraph-by-Paragraph Framework
Band 7+ essays follow a clear, predictable structure. The examiner should never have to search for your opinion or wonder which view is being discussed.
Distancing Language: What Separates Average from Academic
This single technique separates candidates who sound like they are debating from candidates who sound like they are analysing.
Distancing language means presenting an argument as the belief of a group of people, rather than your own personal position. It is essential in Body Paragraph 1, where you are explaining a view you may not personally hold.
In the first version, the examiner assumes this is your personal belief. In the second, the examiner understands you are explaining someone else's argument. That distinction matters enormously for the objectivity and academic tone of the essay.
Useful Distancing Phrases
These phrases immediately lift the register of your writing without requiring advanced vocabulary. Use them at the start of your first body paragraph and whenever you introduce a reason that belongs to the opposing side.
Sentence Starters for Every Part of the Essay
Using a varied and appropriate range of connectors improves your Coherence and Cohesion score. These are not templates to memorise — they are patterns to understand and adapt.
Why Body Paragraph 2 Should Be Stronger
Your opinion should not appear suddenly in the conclusion. It should gradually become visible through the quality and depth of your arguments.
A Band 7+ essay makes your position evident by writing the paragraph you agree with more convincingly — with more developed reasons, clearer examples, and wider consequences — than the paragraph you do not agree with.
The examiner does not need you to say "I believe this is right" in every sentence. They can read the quality of your thinking. When Paragraph 2 is noticeably more developed, your opinion comes through clearly.
A Quick Illustration
Consider the contrast in weight and development between these two closing statements:
The difference in scope and confidence signals to the examiner, without any explicit statement, which position the writer finds more convincing.
The Recommended Two-Sentence Introduction
A clean, two-sentence introduction is more effective than a long, winding opening. It tells the examiner what the topic is, that you understand both sides, and what your position is — nothing more, nothing less.
Sentence 1: Paraphrase the topic and acknowledge both viewpoints.
Sentence 2: State your opinion clearly.
Example Introduction
Two sentences. No repetition. Opinion stated. This is exactly what Band 7+ examiners want to read.
A Full Band 7+ Essay
Read through the complete response below. Notice how each paragraph serves a specific purpose, and how the supporting view receives more development than the opposing view.
Difficult circumstances such as financial hardship and unsatisfactory employment have generated differing opinions regarding the most appropriate response to such challenges. While some people advocate accepting these situations, I side with those who believe making efforts to improve them is a more beneficial approach.
On the one hand, supporters of this view argue that accepting a difficult situation can often be the most practical course of action. One reason for this is that not everyone possesses the resources, qualifications or opportunities required to improve their circumstances immediately. For instance, individuals supporting a family may be reluctant to leave a stable but unsatisfying job because doing so could place their financial security at risk. Furthermore, constantly pursuing change may result in stress, uncertainty and disappointment. Those who hold this opinion believe that accepting reality and focusing on available opportunities can help people maintain emotional well-being and peace of mind. Therefore, acceptance may be a sensible option in certain situations.
On the other hand, many people contend that individuals should actively strive to improve their circumstances whenever possible. One major reason is that personal growth often results from overcoming challenges rather than merely tolerating them. For example, people who invest time in education, professional training or skill development are more likely to secure better employment opportunities and higher incomes. Moreover, accepting an unfavourable situation for an extended period can reduce ambition and discourage self-improvement. History and everyday life provide countless examples of individuals who transformed their lives through determination, perseverance and hard work. Consequently, taking positive action can lead to long-term financial stability and a significantly improved quality of life.
In conclusion, although accepting difficult circumstances may provide stability and emotional comfort in certain situations, striving to improve them is ultimately more advantageous as it promotes personal growth, financial security and long-term success. Therefore, on balance, I strongly believe individuals should make reasonable efforts to enhance their circumstances whenever opportunities arise.
Why This Essay Scores at Band 7 and Above
IELTS examiners reward clarity, development and logical organisation far more than difficult vocabulary or memorised templates. This essay succeeds not because of complex words — it succeeds because every paragraph does exactly what it should.
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