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 IS A ONGOING DEBATE REGARDING COMPETITION . MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE INCLINE TTO THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE A HEALTY COMPETITION AMONG STAFF MEMBERES AT WORKPLACE AND IN INSTITUTE FOR STUDENTS AND EVEN IN DAILY ROUTINE . HOWEVER, OTHERS ARE THE VIEW IS THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD WAY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF THAT PEOPLE AND LEARNERER SHOULD TRY TO COOPERATE MORE. BOTH THE VIEW WILL BE DISCUSSED BEFORE GIVING MY OWN OPINION.

THE FORMER OPINION , IS THAT COMPETITION IS NOT A BAD THING INFACT IT IS IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS SKILLS AND PEOPLE TAKE THEIR WORK IN A SERIOUS NOTE IF THERE IS ANY TOUGH COMPETITOR. SUCH AS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IF SCHOOL AUTHORITY ORGANISE SOME COMPETITIVE EVENTS SO LEARNERERS TAKE A PART IN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND EVEN TRY TO HARD MORE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL AS COMPARE TO THEIR FRIENDS WHICH IMPROVE STUDENTS ABILITY AND FOCUSED REGARDING THEIR WORK . SAME AS IN WORK PLACE THE COMPETITON IS MORE NEDDED FOR COMPANY ICONOMY GROWTH AND EMPLOY PERSONAL GROWTH. IN ADDITION, COMPETIOTION BETWEEN FRIEND ARE KNOWN AS A HEALTY COMPETITION WHICH IS NEDEED SOME TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS.

OTHERS HAVE A VIEW THAT AND HAVE THEIR OWN POINTS TO BEGIN WITH, SOMETIMES THIS TYPE OF COMPETITION CREATE A MASSIVE THINGS SPECIALLY BETWEEN THE OFFICE EMPLOY WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR COMPANY BETERMENT AND EVEN ITS AFFECT THE WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT. MOREOVER, PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE LITTLE ONE AND IN THOSE AGE THEY ARE NOT READY FOR TAKING ANY LOOSES ITS CREAT A VERY NEGATIVE EFFECT IN THEIR MIND AT THAT AGE.

TO SUM UP , AND GIVE MY OPINION I BELIEVE THAT COMPETITION IS NEDDED IN LIFE MANY TIMES IT IS IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS STRENGHT AND SKILL .

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 prompt. However, the development of ideas is limited. For example, the argument regarding the negative effects of competition on children is mentioned but not fully explored or supported with specific, convincing examples. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not effectively synthesize the arguments presented. To improve, you should aim to expand your supporting points with more detailed explanations and concrete illustrations, ensuring that your position is clearly maintained and developed throughout the entire essay.

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, such as 'THE FORMER OPINION' and 'OTHERS HAVE A VIEW THAT AND HAVE THEIR OWN POINTS'. Some transitions feel forced or repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making the flow between sentences somewhat disjointed. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases more naturally to connect your ideas, ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. There are frequent spelling errors, such as 'HEALTY', 'LEARNERER', 'NEDDED', and 'ICONOMY', which can distract the reader. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic terms like 'good thing' and 'bad thing' repeatedly. To improve, you should work on expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary and pay closer attention to spelling and word formation. Using more precise synonyms would significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('IT IS IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS SKILLS'), incorrect verb forms ('TRY TO HARD MORE'), and awkward phrasing ('THE OTHERS HAVE A VIEW THAT AND HAVE THEIR OWN POINTS'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors impede the overall fluency of the text. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips will help improve your score.

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

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