Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04

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)

A competitive world, competition has become significantly more common as compared to the past. while some individuals argue that competition is a good thing, others believe that we should try to cooperate more instead of competing against each other. This essay will explore both perspectives along with valid reasons in the following paragraphs before presenting my opinion.

On the one hand, supporters of the former view argue that it enhances the performance of students. Due to heavy competition, they always try to give their best and come up with new ideas, which can lead to improving their performance. A clear illustration of this is that many schools organise quiz competition in which pupils compete with each other. Consequently, this can foster their adrenaline rush. In addition, it creates the winning mentality among students and always to the win. For example, in many sports such as chess they always think about winning rather than losing. Moreover, it can foster the innovation because of extreme competition.

On the other hand, advocates of the latter view believe that we should try to cooperate more instead of comparing ourselves with others. This is primarily because it allows people to share their knowledge with other and solve any complex problems more effectively. For instance, in multi national companies, employeers work on same project, so if they cooperate, it can benefitial to achieve goal more effectively. As a result, these can not only improve productivity but also enhance overall performance. Furthermore, constant comparison raises stress levels and damages self-esteem, which can cause serious mental issues such as extreme stress and depression.

In conclusion, although competition raises anxiety and mental trauma, I strongly believe that it is good idea. Not only does it improve performance of students, but also it fosters innovation and enhances pupils performance and skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both competition and cooperation and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the benefits of competition are supported with examples like school quizzes and chess, the explanation of the 'winning mentality' is slightly vague. The conclusion reiterates the position, but the supporting arguments in the body paragraphs could be more deeply explored to reach a higher band. The response is well-structured and maintains a consistent position throughout, which is a strength.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two opposing views is handled well using cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. However, some cohesive links are a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'In addition' and 'Moreover'. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences, such as 'these can not only improve productivity', lack a precise antecedent. Overall, the flow of ideas is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'foster', 'innovation', and 'multi-national', which are used appropriately. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'mental trauma' (which is too strong in this context) and 'always to the win' (which is grammatically incorrect). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'many schools organise quiz competition' (missing plural), 'employeers work on same project' (missing articles), and 'it is good idea' (missing article). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'pupils performance' (missing possessive apostrophe). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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