Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-07

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)

Competition is an important issue that affects individuals and society in different ways. While some people believe that competition at work, at school and in daily life is beneficial, others argue that people should cooperate more rather than compete against each other. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe that cooperation is more beneficial overall.

On the one hand, those who support competition argue that it can motivate individuals to improve their performance. The main reason is that competing with others encourages people to work harder and develop their skills in order to achieve better results. Furthermore, competition can help individuals reach their full potential by encouraging them to set ambitious goals. For example, students who compete for scholarships may spend more time studying and consequently achieve higher grades than they otherwise would. Therefore, this viewpoint has clear advantages, particularly when competition remains healthy and fair.

On the other hand, others believe that cooperation is more effective for achieving common goals. This is because working together allows individuals to share knowledge, skills and responsibilities. In addition, cooperation can help people solve complex problems more efficiently because different individuals can contribute different ideas and expertise. For instance, employees from different departments can work together on an important project and combine their skills to achieve a successful outcome. I believe this view is more convincing because cooperation promotes teamwork and creates mutually beneficial results. As a result, people can achieve collective success rather than focusing solely on outperforming others.

In conclusion, although both views have their own merits, I believe that cooperation is more beneficial overall. This is because it not only promotes teamwork but also allows people to share skills and achieve common goals, making it the more beneficial approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of competition and the advantages of cooperation. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with logical explanations and examples, such as the mention of scholarships for competition and cross-departmental projects for cooperation. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the potential downsides of each approach in more depth, which would provide a more nuanced analysis of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition', to link your points. The transition between the two viewpoints and your own opinion is smooth. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'reach their full potential', 'mutually beneficial results', and 'collective success' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning well, it is mostly standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'foster', 'synergy', or 'incentivize', to demonstrate a wider and more flexible range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the conditional structure 'than they otherwise would' and the use of subordinate clauses. The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few, if any, grammatical errors. The sentences are generally error-free, which indicates a high level of control. To move toward a band 8 or 9, ensure you continue to vary your sentence structures to maintain a high level of fluency and sophistication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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