Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Some people believe that competition in work, school and everyday life is a positive thing, while others think that cooperation is more important. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On the one hand, competition can bring many benefits. It can motivate people to work harder and improve their skills. For example, students who compete with their classmates may study more and get better results. In the workplace, competition can also encourage employees to be more productive and creative.
On the other hand, cooperation is also very important. When people work together, they can share ideas and solve problems more easily. Teamwork can create a friendly environment and help people achieve common goals. For instance, in a company, employees who cooperate can complete projects faster and more successfully.
In my opinion, both competition and cooperation are useful, but cooperation is more important. Too much competition can create stress and damage relationships, while working together helps people support each other.
In conclusion, competition can encourage improvement, but cooperation is necessary for building strong relationships and achieving better results. A balance between the two is the best approach
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, containing only 189 words. This lack of length prevents the development of ideas; the arguments are presented in a very brief, superficial manner. To reach a higher band, you must extend your points with more detailed explanations, specific examples, and deeper analysis. While the task is addressed, the under-length nature of the response means the ideas are not fully developed, which limits the score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to link your points. However, the range of cohesive devices is quite limited, and the transitions between sentences are somewhat mechanical. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of linking words and phrases to create a more sophisticated flow between your arguments and supporting details.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'productive,' 'creative,' and 'common goals.' However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise, academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repeating basic words like 'good,' 'important,' and 'work.' Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express your ideas with more nuance and precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical accuracy. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally correct. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When people work together, they can share ideas...' and 'Too much competition can create stress...'. While the grammar is reliable, the range of structures is somewhat basic. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice, conditional sentences, or relative clauses, to demonstrate greater control and flexibility in your writing.
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