Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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 individuals believe that competition in every day life, at primary education, or at work is a good practice, while others argue that competing against each other is not a better thing and we should cooperate. Although I recognize the value of both perspectives, I agree with the second statement because it helps more people to learn essential skills, while also builds strong communication with other individuals in the organization.

On the one hand, competition at different levels of life is a better habit. This is because, young pupils are able to work hard and try to get good marks or reputation in the eyes of their seniors and parents. For example, a fresh graduate who just started internship in the company listen the stories of other internees hard work who join just few weeks ago. As a result, this put a great impact on new candidate and motivates him to get appreciation from higher bodies.

On the other hand, coordinating with each other is very essential rather than competing. It plays a significant role to learn important skills and also improves the behaviour of people. For instance, a new employer in company which faces difficulty in completing tasks can seek guidance from other people which helps him in submitting assignments and build strong coordination with other employees. Therefore, it brings improvement in personality and cognitive ability of an individual.

In conclusion, the best way to learn things at school, at work or in daily life is that cooperate with each others instead of competition. Because it helps people to create strong bond with other candidates and for achieving desired goals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for competition is supported by a brief example of an intern, but the explanation remains superficial. The conclusion is also quite brief and repeats points already made without adding depth. To reach a higher band, you should aim to extend your supporting arguments with more detailed analysis or broader real-world examples, ensuring that the 'why' behind your opinion is fully explored.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') is precise would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cognitive ability', 'reputation', and 'internship'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'not a better thing' instead of 'not necessarily beneficial' and 'higher bodies' instead of 'superiors' or 'management'. 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.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the company', 'a fresh graduate'), subject-verb agreement ('internees hard work who join'), and verb forms ('listen the stories'). Some sentences are also slightly awkward, such as 'cooperate with each others instead of competition'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining your use of complex sentence structures.

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

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