Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-13

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 7.0)

As far as this topic is concerned, I do agree with the statement that cooperation is more beneficial than competition. This issue has always been debatable and has now become more controversial, with many people claiming that competition is beneficial while others reject this notion. The substantial influence of this trend has sparked controversy over the potential impact in recent years. In my opinion, the latter proposition appears to be more rational. This essay will further elaborate my views in favour of cooperation and thus will lead to a logical conclusion.

Analyzing the statement and explaining furthermore, the first reason behind this is that cooperation helps people to achieve their common goals more effectively. Categorically discussing, it cannot be ignored that working together is especially important at school, at work and in daily life. When people cooperate with each other, they can share their ideas, knowledge and responsibilities. For example, students can help each other in their studies, while employees can work as a team to complete difficult projects. Therefore, cooperation can improve relationships and produce better results.

Moving further, it is pertinent to mention that competition can also motivate people to work harder and improve their abilities. However, excessive competition may create stress, jealousy and conflict. It is imperative for schools, workplaces and society to encourage people to cooperate more rather than constantly competing against each other. In this way, people can achieve their goals while also supporting and respecting others.

To encapsulate, I would like to appeal to the learned figures to focus their attention on the importance of cooperation and encourage people to work together. Although competition has some benefits, I believe that cooperation is more important for creating a successful and peaceful society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both competition and cooperation and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that cooperation helps achieve goals and competition can cause stress, these points could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The introduction is a bit wordy and repetitive, focusing more on the topic's controversy than on the specific arguments to follow. To improve, ensure each body paragraph provides a more detailed exploration of the 'why' and 'how' behind your claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Moving further', and 'In this way' to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some of the transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between the discussion of competition and the return to cooperation could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas is somewhat predictable. To move to a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical progression between sentences is more sophisticated and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proposition', 'categorically', 'imperative', and 'encapsulate'. The meaning is consistently clear, and there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. However, the vocabulary is somewhat standard and lacks the 'less common' or 'idiomatic' items that characterize higher band scores. Some phrases, such as 'As far as this topic is concerned', are quite generic. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to social dynamics or professional environments to show greater flexibility and precision in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled well. There are no major errors that cause confusion for the reader. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'Although competition has some benefits, I believe that cooperation is more important...'. While the grammar is generally sound, the range of structures is somewhat limited; there is a reliance on straightforward sentence patterns. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or more sophisticated passive constructions, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already achieved.

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

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