Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10
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 5.5)
Some people believe that competition is beneficial in different areas of life,While others feel that having the ability to cooperate with partners is more advantageous.In my view, cooperating with people is pivotal in many aspects of life.
On the one hand, many individuals stand with the fact that competition in life is a good thing as it develops competitive spirt among people which often leads to better outcomes but if we see overall, it can make situations unnecessarily stressful because it puts pressure on them.Also comparing with someone again and again can create a sense of insecurity, resulting in dispute and sometimes it can also affect their mental health .For example, a student who is working hard from long time but is not able to outperform his competitor, then will start to doubt himself.
On the other hand, where members of society believe that they should cooperate more, instead of competing with each other.Individuals will feel connected to each other because they will not view activities with others as being better than them but with the view of growing together and help them develop skills they lack and visa versa.For instance, a student helping other student to understand indispensable concepts so that he/she can pass the test.Therefore, I stand with the opinion that cooperation can lead to better learning environment.In addition helps maintain inner peace.
To sum up, competitive environment overall causes positive outcome as well as negative.Whereas, cooperative environment can counter the issue associated with competitive environment without causing any harm to anyone.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the discussion on competition focuses heavily on the negative aspects (stress, insecurity) without fully exploring why some people might consider it a 'good thing' beyond a brief mention of 'better outcomes'. Similarly, the cooperative argument is supported by a relevant example, but the analysis could be more nuanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides are explored with equal depth and that the supporting arguments are fully expanded rather than just stated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward. For example, the transition 'Also comparing with someone again and again' is informal and lacks smooth integration. Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack proper linking, such as the start of the second paragraph: 'On the one hand, many individuals stand with the fact that...'. Improving the variety and precision of linking words would enhance the flow and coherence of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'stand with the fact' instead of 'support the view' or 'argue that'. The phrase 'visa versa' is also misspelled. While the student attempts to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'competitive spirit' and 'indispensable concepts', the overall range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of academic terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect readability. Issues include missing articles ('a student helping other student'), incorrect preposition usage, and punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas and periods. Some sentences are also grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'In addition helps maintain inner peace.' While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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