Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
People often compete with each other in various fields such as in employment, studies and everyday lives. Few of them believe that this is a good thing and other consider that individuals should help more to others in difficult time instead of competing one another. I agree with the later statement and it is discussed in the essay.
Firstly, In classroom, pupils mostly focus on marks rather than understanding the subject easily because every student wish that they will reward more than others. As one clear example is during science exam preparation, the individual main focus is on memorizing the definitions rather than understanding the concept. Secondly, employers in organizations compete with one another instead of helping each other in difficult tasks. Thirdly, in everyday lives, people often run towards money and class rather than helping needy people.
I personally refer that, Instead of competing with one another, help other person in their difficult time as it will ease their difficulty and be grateful for each other. One of the main reason behind this is, when we stop comparing ourselves to others and focus on our main goal and understand the task clearly, so it will be better for us in the future as well and we will be more practical.
To conclude, we should not only focus on competing with each other, Instead cooperate more with others and it will be beneficial in future as well. People who want help will not be suffer anymore and they made relationships good with each other.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention competition in schools, workplaces, and daily life, the points are presented as a list rather than being fully explored or supported with detailed examples. For instance, the example about science exams is a good start but lacks depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is expanded with more specific reasoning or illustrative evidence to fully develop your argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'To conclude' to link your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'Few of them believe', which does not clearly link back to the previous sentence. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'employment', 'organizations', and 'cooperate'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'run towards money and class' and 'they made relationships good'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'every student wish', 'they will reward'), article usage, and word order. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas appearing in several places. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of your writing. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy and proofreading for common errors will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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