Hustlers IELTS | Cambridge 14 Academic (Test 1) | Discuss Both Views + Opinion (Band 7–9)
This is a “Discuss both views and give your opinion” question — and it’s exactly the type where candidates lose marks by being vague.
Here’s the truth: you don’t get a high band score by sounding neutral.
You get it by:
- discussing both views fairly, and
- making your position clear throughout, not only in the conclusion.
This model shows you how to do that properly.
The Task (Cambridge 14 Academic, Test 1)
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 these views and give your own opinion.
The Planning Logic (Simple, Strong, Examiner-Friendly)
View 1: Accept the bad situation
Why do people think this way?
- They believe in fate / karma and feel powerless
- Change is difficult and stressful
- Staying put can feel safer than risk and uncertainty (retraining, starting again)
View 2: Improve the situation
Why do people support this?
- Effort now can create long-term benefits
- Better pay, better work, better quality of life is often worth the struggle
Opinion (clear and firm)
- Accepting may be easier short-term
- But improving is usually the smarter long-term choice
- Individuals have more control than they think
Band 7–9 Model Essay
How should we respond to unsatisfactory circumstances in our lives, such as a job we don’t like, relationships that aren’t working or a lack of money? Should we simply accept such situations, or is it better to strive to overcome these in order to make our lives better?
There are certainly arguments in favour of the idea that we should just put up with bad situations. Some people claim that they are all down to fate, and that there is nothing we can do about hardship. Indeed some go further, arguing that people might actually deserve to suffer because of bad karma. While these are, in my opinion, quite extreme views, it is understandable that some people might prefer to do nothing when things are bad: change is difficult and it can be stressful, so in some cases it may be easier to just accept a bad job or poverty. For example, many people put up with tedious or even dangerous jobs which are also badly-paid because the alternative may involve retraining or having to start at the bottom of the pay scale.
Despite these arguments, I would argue strongly for the need to try to improve bad situations. Even though change can be hard, it will often lead to long-term benefits such as higher pay and more rewarding work. For example, my nephew resigned a few years ago from a poorly-paid office job to train as a nurse, and now that he has qualified, he has a more secure future ahead of him as well as a job which enables him to make a real difference to people’s lives.
Overall then, I feel it is vital for people to try to change things for the better, even if this means stress and greater effort. Personally, I reject the notion of fate and believe that we all have control over our own lives, and we should therefore choose to exercise this, no matter how difficult it may initially be.
(327 words)
Why This Essay Scores High (And Why It’s “Safer”)
Many candidates make one big mistake: they discuss both views neutrally, then give an opinion only in the final paragraph. That can work — but it’s risky.
This model is stronger because it makes the position clear throughout:
In the “accept” paragraph, it shows balance but signals disagreement
- “There are certainly arguments in favour…”
- “it is understandable that…”
- “While these are… quite extreme views…”
That’s fair discussion — without pretending both sides are equal.
In the “improve” paragraph, the stance becomes decisive
- “Despite these arguments, I would argue strongly…”
- “Even though change can be hard, it will often lead to…”
That’s exactly what “clear position throughout” looks like.
High-Impact Vocabulary & Collocations to Copy
- unsatisfactory circumstances
- put up with
- down to fate
- hardship
- bad karma
- quite extreme views
- prefer to do nothing
- change is difficult and stressful
- tedious or even dangerous jobs
- badly-paid
- retraining
- start at the bottom of the pay scale
- argue strongly for
- long-term benefits
- more rewarding work
- a more secure future ahead
- make a real difference
- reject the notion of
- have control over our own lives
These phrases are clear, natural, and high band because they’re precise — not “fancy.”
Hustlers IELTS Final Word
This is the standard you should aim for in Discuss Both Views essays:
- discuss both sides properly
- show your opinion early (strategically)
- support with one strong example
- finish with a confident conclusion