Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-30
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)
Today, many people discuss whether competition or cooperation is better at work, school, and daily life. Some think competing with others is good, but others believe working together is more important. In my opinion, both have advantages, but cooperation is more important.
On the one hand, competition can motivate people. When students or workers compete, they try to work harder to get better results. For example, in school, students study more to get the highest marks in exams. In companies, competition can help workers create new ideas and improve their work. Therefore, competition helps people improve themselves.
On the other hand, cooperation is essential for many reasons. First, when people work together, they can finish difficult tasks easily. For instance, in big projects, one person cannot do everything alone, so teamwork is necessary. Second, cooperation creates a friendly environment. If people always compete, they may feel stressed and have bad relationships with others. Working together helps people build good relationships and help each other.
In conclusion, competition can make people work hard and achieve good results. However, I believe cooperation is better because teamwork helps us solve big problems and live happily with other people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
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, which limits the depth of the discussion. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. To reach a higher band, you need to expand on your points with more detailed examples and nuanced explanations. For instance, you could discuss specific scenarios where competition might be detrimental or where cooperation is essential in a globalized economy. The current length prevents a fully developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is organized logically with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'First,' and 'Second' to link your points. While the structure is sound, the range of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences are smoother and less mechanical.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'motivate,' 'teamwork,' and 'friendly environment.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple, high-frequency words. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and collocations, such as 'foster innovation' instead of 'create new ideas' or 'detrimental effects' instead of 'bad relationships.' The current range is sufficient for a 6.0 but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. You show control over basic tenses and sentence construction. To move into the 7.0+ range, you need to demonstrate a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, and ensure they are used with high accuracy. Currently, your writing is clear and functional, but it lacks the structural complexity and variety expected at higher levels.
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