Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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)

There has long been debate over whether , some individuals believe that challenges at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others argue that we should try cooperate with each other instead of competing against each other.

Advocates of this perspective maintain that competition is a good thing because they teach us to concentrate on our work or motivate us towards our dreams . Another reason is that , it also build confidence in ourselves which helps us to work with different people . In addition to it, it encourages us to manage our work on time and deal with different people.

Conversely, critics argue that we should try help each other rather than challenging each other. We should care about others because every person didn't like competing . Further more, we should avoid rivaling so may be unity can increase.

While both perspectives have merit, I am inclined to believe that contending is a good thing but we should try to more cooperate instead of against each other . So, it produce solidarity. Moreover, I think competition is also necessary , because it build confidence and engage us to work with people and talk with them about any topic . This also teaches us how to handle any difficult situation.

Having weighed both perspectives have merit , ultimately, the former viewpoint appears challenges and cooperate both are important . We can learn unity through cooperation and can solve any problem through challenges because challenges also teach us patience and how to control ourselves . And this is a good thing when we known how to control ourselves and face challenges . That's why both are important in life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the task. However, the development of ideas is limited. For example, the arguments for competition are repetitive, focusing primarily on 'confidence' and 'working with people' in multiple paragraphs. The explanation of why cooperation is beneficial is underdeveloped and lacks specific examples or logical depth. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are somewhat superficial, preventing the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, you should aim to provide more distinct, well-reasoned points for each side rather than repeating similar concepts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'In addition to it' and 'Further more' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. Additionally, some sentences are repetitive, such as the concluding paragraph which restates points already made without adding new synthesis. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good thing' and 'different people' repeatedly. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'avoid rivaling' and 'try to more cooperate', which sound unnatural. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary limits the score. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more academic synonyms for common words to express your ideas with greater nuance.

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 the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('every person didn't like', 'it build confidence'), incorrect verb forms ('it produce solidarity'), and awkward phrasing ('the former viewpoint appears challenges and cooperate both are important'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is usually understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a stronger grasp of basic grammatical rules, particularly regarding tense and agreement.

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