Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08

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 7.5)

Some argue that competition drives progress in all areas of life, while others believe that cooperation is more beneficial for society. In my opinion, although competition has its place, a greater emphasis on cooperation leads to better outcomes overall.

Those in favor of competition claim that it is a key motivator for achievement. At work, employees who compete for promotions tend to work harder and be more productive, which benefits the company. In schools, students who compete for top grades often push themselves to study more effectively. This competitive spirit also exists in daily life, for example in sports, where athletes strive to break records and achieve personal bests. Proponents argue that without this drive to outperform others, people would become complacent and innovation would slow down.

However, an overemphasis on competition can have negative consequences. In the workplace, excessive rivalry can damage team morale and lead to a toxic environment where colleagues withhold information from each other. In education, students who are only focused on beating their peers may experience high levels of stress and anxiety, and they may be less willing to help classmates who are struggling. More importantly, many of the world’s biggest challenges, such as climate change and global pandemics, cannot be solved by individual effort. They require countries, scientists, and organizations to work together and share knowledge.

In conclusion, while a degree of competition can encourage personal growth and efficiency, I believe that cooperation is ultimately more valuable. By working together rather than against each other, we can achieve greater collective success and build a more supportive society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both the benefits of competition and the importance of cooperation, while maintaining a consistent personal position throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the contrast between individual achievement and the necessity of collective action for global issues like climate change. The structure is logical, and the arguments are supported with relevant examples, such as the workplace environment and academic settings. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position, ensuring the response is balanced and comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the competitive perspective and the cooperative perspective is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However', 'In conclusion', and 'More importantly', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose in the overall structure. The relationship between sentences is clear, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases such as 'complacent', 'toxic environment', and 'collective success' demonstrate a good command of language appropriate for an academic context. The word choice is generally accurate and natural, contributing to the overall clarity of the essay. While the vocabulary is effective and fits the topic well, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is strong and supports your arguments well without any noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'while a degree of competition can encourage... I believe that...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of complex ideas. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the piece. The writing is polished and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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