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 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both competition and cooperation and clearly stating a position. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, particularly the benefits of cooperation in professional and academic settings. However, the development of the 'competition' side is somewhat brief compared to the support for cooperation. While the position is clear throughout, the essay could be improved by providing a more nuanced exploration of why some people might argue that competition is essential for innovation or personal growth, rather than just focusing on its negative aspects like stress. Overall, the task is fulfilled adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, and the writer uses a range of cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Moving further', and 'To encapsulate'. However, some of the linking phrases, such as 'Analyzing the statement and explaining furthermore', feel slightly mechanical or redundant. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The referencing is generally clear, and the flow between the discussion of cooperation and the counter-argument regarding competition is smooth, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The writer uses appropriate academic collocations such as 'common goals', 'potential impact', and 'excessive competition'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrases like 'learned figures' in the conclusion sound slightly unnatural or overly formal in this context. The word choice is generally accurate and conveys the intended meaning without difficulty. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are no major errors that impede communication. The use of complex structures, such as 'Although competition has some benefits, I believe that...', is handled well. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the range of structures is sufficient, the essay relies on a somewhat standard sentence pattern. Incorporating a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as inversion or more complex conditional sentences, would help elevate the score.

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