Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25
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 7.0)
There is ongoing debate about whether cooperation between people or engaging in competition at schools or workplaces is more beneficial. In my opinion, I strongly agree with the latter view, although I recognise the significance of cooperation especially in group projects.
On the one hand, a healthy competitive environment helps people achieve greater results as it creates a motivational drive to help them succeed. For instance, schools create many learning opportunities for pupils through competitions, such as sports day or debate clubs, as it pushes the students to strive to challenge themselves in order to win against their fellow students. Therefore, competitions aim to provide the students with the strong mindset required to work harder and achieve greater results additionally equipping them with the confidence and mental resilence to create similar positive results academically.
On the other hand, cooperation and teamwork is fundamental in the workplace environment as great soft skills, such as communication abilities, are highly valuable as this allows work projects to progress smoothly. For example, multiple employees within the same company but across different specialities often have to work together on one large complex project requiring several different tasks and research ascepts.
As a result, this highlights the importance of efficient communication in order to compkete the work successfully.
In conclusion, although cooperation is beneficial in the workplace as it helps projects run with minimal obstacles, competitions especially in schools, allows young people to benefit from establishing the motivation required for success.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which impacts the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, the discussion on cooperation is somewhat brief compared to the competitive aspect. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph provides more detailed analysis or a more specific, extended example to fully explore the implications of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, there is some minor mechanical use of transitions, and the flow between sentences could be improved by varying the structure of cohesive links. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final sentence of the second paragraph and the preceding argument is slightly abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with some good collocations like 'healthy competitive environment' and 'mental resilience'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'resilence' and 'ascepts', and a typo 'compkete'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. Using more varied synonyms and precise academic terminology would enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and errors are infrequent enough that they do not impede communication. However, there are some minor issues with punctuation and sentence construction, such as the run-on sentence in the first paragraph. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, and ensure consistent accuracy in punctuation and subject-verb agreement.
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