Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 6.0)

Competition and cooperation both play important roles in people's lives. While some people believe that competition encourages individuals to perform better, others think that cooperation brings greater benefits. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe a balance is necessary, although cooperation is more important.

On the one hand, competition can motivate people to work harder and achieve their goals. In schools, students often study more seriously because they want to get better grades than their classmates. Similarly, employees may improve their skills and work more efficiently to earn promotions or higher salaries. In addition, competition encourages innovation. Companies try to develop better products and services to attract more customers, which benefits society as a whole. Therefore, healthy competition can increase productivity and help people reach their full potential.

On the other hand, cooperation is essential in many situations because people can achieve better results by working together. Teamwork allows individuals to share ideas, knowledge and responsibilities, leading to more effective solutions. For example, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers must cooperate to provide the best treatment for patients. Furthermore, excessive competition may create stress, jealousy and unhealthy relationships, whereas cooperation builds trust and creates a positive environment. Many global problems, such as climate change and public health issues, can only be solved through international cooperation.

In my opinion, although competition has several advantages, cooperation is more valuable in today's world. Most workplaces and communities depend on teamwork rather than individual success. Healthy competition can encourage improvement, but it should never replace cooperation. By balancing both approaches, people can achieve personal success while also contributing to the well-being of society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of competition and the importance of cooperation. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay, concluding that while competition has its place, cooperation is more valuable. The ideas are well-developed, with relevant examples such as the healthcare sector and global issues like climate change. The essay is balanced and provides a logical progression of thought. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the potential downsides of cooperation, such as the risk of groupthink, to provide an even more nuanced analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Similarly,' 'In addition,' 'Furthermore,' and 'On the other hand,' which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The transition between the discussion of competition and cooperation is seamless. The overall flow is natural, and the use of referencing is accurate throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'reach their full potential,' 'excessive competition,' and 'unhealthy relationships' are used accurately. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic context and conveys your meaning clearly. While the range is good, incorporating a few more sophisticated, less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations would elevate the response further. For instance, instead of 'better results,' you could use 'synergistic outcomes.' Overall, your word choice is natural and contributes to the clarity of your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'While' and 'although' clauses to contrast ideas. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex forms to maintain interest and clarity. To achieve a higher band, ensure that you continue to experiment with more varied grammatical structures, such as inversion or conditional sentences, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already demonstrated.

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