Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-11
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)
Several individual think that competition at work , at academic institution and in daily life is a good thing. In my opinion I side with it because it helps them to broaden their knowledge and make the individuals more focused and responsible.
On the first hand , contest in work place , schools and in daily life playing a significant role because competition gives individuals more knowledge to understand their daily life tasks, their work and sometimes help them in their academics it makes them more focused and carrier oriented and ability to take decisions. For instance companies and schools and even sometimes parents give tasks to the peoples and youngers to encourage them time to time competition make them more productive and it break there monotony and help them to achieve their dreams.
On the second hand, numerous individuals think they should they should keep work in teams because it teaches them to create bonding with each other, learn different culture and complete tasks in timelines. For example if they compete in teams they do not need worry about task it can complete with divided work and it makes the burden less on individuals.
In conclusion, competition at work, academic institution and in daily life is important but it depends on priority its a healthy thing for for everyone to make thing exiting and energetic with the knowledge.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the discussion. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the explanation of why competition is beneficial is repetitive and lacks specific, well-supported examples. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for a full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the use of 'On the first hand' and 'On the second hand' instead of the standard 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences can feel disjointed. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the logical progression of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'carrier oriented' (likely meaning 'career-oriented') and 'it break there monotony' (should be 'their'). The use of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, and there is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure correct spelling and collocation throughout your work.
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 impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Several individual think'), missing articles, and incorrect word forms (e.g., 'youngers' instead of 'young people'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and diversifying your sentence structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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