Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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)

Some people assume that competing at workplace, at educational institutions and in daily life is a great way of helping individuals continue growing. In contrast, other people believe that instead of competing against one another, it is advisable to cooperate more. From my perspective, I believe that 2 factors mentioned above are essential to lead to a sustainable and developed life in any conditions of all aspect of life.

First of all, the working environment is not easy for some fresh graduates or even experienced worker to survive during tough time. This gives employees plenty of pressure when they meet managers' expectations. Besides, students also face a variety of problems in the academic environment from teachers, peers or schoolwork which cause pupils stressed because of intangible fears that they fall behind in the class. If people do not assist or collaborate with others, it is impossible to overcome obstacles or hard periods of time in office, school or their daily life. In the long run, this discourages people to make a plan or accomplish new targets in their life.

On the other hand, if people do not compete with each other, they will gradually depend on others' assistance which makes them easily pleased with accomplishments without striving to achieve new challenges.

In conclusion, I think it is necessary to coordinate and team up with colleagues, give a hand with classmates even with strangers we come across on the street. This improves civilized lifestyles to create a better society. However, competing with others healthily is also an integral part of life, which helps individuals gains more achievements and become the best version.

AI examiner evaluation

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 the pressure of competition and the benefits of cooperation, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. For instance, you mention 'tough time' and 'intangible fears' but do not fully explain how these manifest in a way that convinces the reader. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph contains a well-developed explanation followed by a concrete example or a more detailed analysis of the consequences of each approach.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure. However, the transition between the benefits of cooperation and the potential downsides of avoiding competition is a bit abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as '2 factors mentioned above', which feels a bit mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences flow more naturally into one another would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'sustainable', 'civilized lifestyles', and 'integral part'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'competing at workplace' (should be 'in the workplace') and 'cause pupils stressed' (should be 'cause pupils to feel stressed'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and try to incorporate more academic, topic-specific vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'in any conditions of all aspect of life' (which is awkward and grammatically incorrect) and 'helps individuals gains more achievements' (should be 'gain'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. Focus on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage to ensure your sentences are more accurate.

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

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