Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Yes, it is totally right that many people compete with each other in their school, work and many other places. In my opinion, people should have to compete with other people because it can help them to be a perfect in their own field.

Firstly, I would like to share my past experience on this particular topic. when I was in grade 10th, there was a boy in our classroom who always used to copy others and one interesting thing is that he always comes first in our classroom. However, he several times used to cheat also by secretly knowing what other students do to score a good marks in their academic tasks.

Furthermore, If we have some vision in our life then it can obviously help us to improve in various way. Additionally, I suggest many people to have some goal in your life because without goal you cannot do anything.

Nevertheless, I think that there are some drawbacks also because if someone is trying to copy me then surely I will get some internal problems like being stressful and other cerebral-related problems. For instance, if any participants are going to challenge me that he or she will do best then me then I will not let them be successful.

Ultimately, In my preference people should have competition in their life because all you need to become the bestest person on earth and everybody wants to stay on a peak and go high and high and so on. Set your goal and have some faith in God and go for it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument, but the development is inconsistent. While you state your opinion, the supporting arguments are largely anecdotal and lack the depth required for a higher band. For example, the paragraph about the classmate who cheated does not clearly link to the broader benefits of competition. Furthermore, the argument regarding the 'drawbacks' of competition is somewhat confused, as it focuses on personal feelings rather than a balanced discussion of cooperation. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a clear, well-developed point that directly relates to the prompt's core themes of competition versus cooperation in professional and academic settings.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow between ideas is often weak. Transitions such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'Nevertheless' are used, but they sometimes feel mechanical or do not accurately reflect the relationship between the sentences. For instance, the transition to the 'drawbacks' paragraph is abrupt, and the connection between the personal anecdote and the general argument is tenuous. Additionally, the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. Improving the use of cohesive devices to link sentences more naturally would significantly enhance the clarity of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision and range expected for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'good marks', 'do anything', and 'go high and high'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'cerebral-related problems' and 'bestest person', which are not standard English. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, it is often used incorrectly or in a way that sounds unnatural. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more sophisticated synonyms for common words to express your ideas with greater nuance and academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'he always comes first'), incorrect tense usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'people should have to compete with other people'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence structure, consistent verb tenses, and proofreading for basic errors will help improve your accuracy.

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

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