Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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 6.5)

Some people believe that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a vital thing. However, Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other. Although cooperation can be beneficial in many situations, I personally believe that competition can encourage greater development and improvement in work, education and daily life.

One major advantage of cooperation at work is that it can build teamwork among employees. When people work together and provide mutual support to each other, this can strengthen the workplace and significantly improve the working environment. For example, if employees agree to work and communicate together on a big project, they can support each other throughout the process. As a result, this can build confidence and strengthen the company.

Turning to the benefits of competition, it can encourage people to rely on themselves. When people rely on themselves, they can build confidence and become less dependent on others. With these beneficial qualities, they can improve their performance significantly at work. For example, when a person stops worrying about what other people say and starts focusing on improving themselves and competing with others, they may become more motivated to succeed. Consequently, this can enhance the way they work and build confidence in them. Although cooperation can be productive, I agree with competition because it is effective.

In conclusion, although cooperation can help employees build teamwork and support each other, I believe that competition is more beneficial because it can encourage people to become more confident, self-reliant and motivated to improve their performance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that competition encourages self-reliance and motivation, the explanation remains quite general and repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of how competition functions in different contexts, such as the educational system versus the corporate world. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, but the overall depth of the discussion is more characteristic of a Band 6.0, as the arguments are relevant but lack the extension required for higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'Turning to', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the transition between the benefits of cooperation and the shift to competition is somewhat abrupt. Furthermore, the use of cohesive devices is occasionally mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the central topic of each paragraph is clear, which supports the overall coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mutual support', 'self-reliant', and 'significantly improve'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'people', 'work', and 'confidence'. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations. For instance, instead of repeating 'improve', you could use 'enhance', 'foster', or 'propel'. The current range is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication expected at higher levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('if employees agree to work...') and complex structures with 'although' and 'because'. While there are few grammatical errors, the range of structures is somewhat limited. Most sentences follow a standard subject-verb-object pattern. There are no major errors that impede communication, but the lack of more sophisticated grammatical variety (such as passive voice or inversion) keeps the score in the mid-range. Focus on integrating a wider variety of complex sentence forms to demonstrate greater control over your writing.

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