Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

It is believed that being competitive at workplace, at school and in routine is commendable, while others suggested to compromise more instead of being in competition. Prior to my opinion both the notions will be discussed in the ensuing paragraphs.

To commence with, regarding to first view, competition boosts productvity and efficiency. To foster the targets and getting rewards employees work hard and smart. It helps to gain profits and employees become more efficient. In terms of academics, students build resilliance. Competition to achieve higher scores makes students handle pressure, time managemnet and real-world challenges. For instance, for achieving top grades they work hard and take peer pressure which motivates them to engage more in their coursework.Many individuals also sharpens their problem-solving ability. Taking daily work as an challenge they buids adaptability and critical thinking.

However, having cooperation behaviour leads to lower stress. Cooperative environments drive high performances with less mental stress. Furthermore, cooperation buids trust. Being in same place everyday and having team work buids stronger relationship among students and also workoholics at their workplace. Last but not least there are less desputes. If there is a compromising behaviour it would be less conflicts which enable a peaceful environment.

To conclude, although competition enhances the ability to work harder and smarter as well as challenging behaviour, cooperating people tends to work

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address both sides of the question: competition is linked to productivity, efficiency and students’ resilience, while cooperation is associated with lower stress, trust and fewer disputes. However, the discussion is brief and the ideas are mostly asserted rather than explained or supported with relevant examples. The reference to students handling pressure and time management is a start, but it does not show a specific example or explain the consequences in depth. Your own opinion is not clearly stated: “Prior to my opinion” promises one, but the conclusion is unfinished and does not say which approach you favour. The response is also below the required 250 words, which limits how fully you can develop both views and your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph for each view and a concluding section. Transitions such as “To commence with,” “However” and “To conclude” help signal the direction of the discussion. Within paragraphs, related points are generally grouped together, for example the benefits of competition for employees and students. However, progression is sometimes list-like: the cooperation paragraph moves from stress to trust to disputes without developing the links between these points. Some connections are unclear, and the final sentence stops before completing the conclusion, leaving the overall argument unresolved. Develop each main point in a clearer sequence and use linking phrases to show how examples support the claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “productivity,” “efficiency,” “resilience,” “adaptability” and “critical thinking.” These choices help communicate relevant ideas about work and education. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “being competitive at workplace,” “take peer pressure,” “cooperation behaviour” and “workoholics.” Spelling errors, including “productvity,” “resilliance” and “desputes,” are also noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the vocabulary. Aim for natural combinations such as “competition in the workplace,” “cope with peer pressure” and “a cooperative environment.” More precise phrasing would make your ideas easier to follow and give you greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses beginning with “while,” “which” and “if.” This shows some effort to vary sentence structure. However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic agreement, articles, prepositions and verb forms. For example, “Many individuals also sharpens” should have a plural verb, while “an challenge” needs the correct article. In “students … buids stronger relationship,” the verb and noun forms also need correction. The conclusion, “cooperating people tends to work,” is incomplete and leaves the sentence without a finished idea. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and article use, and ensure every sentence has a complete main clause.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.