Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-27

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 7.5)

Some people say that competition at work, at school and in everyday life is a good thing. While others say we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against the other person. Personally, I agree with terms of the idea that competing against other people can make you better than them, however it will not change you into your best version.

On the one hand, people who think competition is the foundation for everyday human growth. It is evident that some rivalry between friends can be harmless and playful, moreover it can even strengthen their bonds in some cases. For example, competing to see who can get a better score on their exam or it can be something simple like running. However the competition usually can cause comparison of the two people, it leads to consequences for mental-health. It changes the way we perceive ourselves, like having self-doubt in ourselves.

On the other hand, cooperating with each other has a more idealistic way to improve ourselves with other human connections. In order to cooperate they often make a room for the other person's opinion or assumption. In schools, for instance, group projects teach children communication and teamwork skills that are essential in most modern workplaces. Additionally, excessive competition can create stress, anxiety, and even unhealthy rivalry, whereas a cooperative approach tends to foster stronger relationships and a more supportive environment.

In conclusion, while competition can drive individual achievement and innovation, cooperation builds essential interpersonal skills and reduces harmful stress. In my view, the two approaches are not mutually exclusive; a combination of healthy competition and strong collaborative skills is most beneficial for success in school, work, and life in general.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both competition and cooperation and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, particularly in the conclusion where you suggest a balanced approach. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, although some points, such as the mention of 'running' as an example of competition, could have been expanded further to fully illustrate the argument. The essay is well-structured, and the development of ideas is logical, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Additionally' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother in places. For instance, the transition from the example of running to the consequences of competition is a bit abrupt. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas, which contributes to the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'foundation for everyday human growth,' 'mutually exclusive,' and 'interpersonal skills' show a good command of language. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'make a room for' (should be 'make room for') and 'agree with terms of the idea,' which slightly affect the naturalness of the expression. However, these errors do not impede communication, and you successfully use some less common lexical items appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the essay. While there are some grammatical slips, such as 'While others say' (a sentence fragment) and 'self-doubt in ourselves' (redundant), the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. Your control of punctuation is generally good, and the complex structures you attempt, such as the conditional-like structure in the conclusion, are handled well. The errors present are minor and do not interfere with the reader's understanding of your arguments.

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