Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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 7.5)

Competition and cooperation are both important parts of modern life. While some people believe that competition at work, school and in everyday life can motivate people to achieve more, others argue that cooperation is more beneficial. In my opinion, competition can be useful, but cooperation is more important for achieving long-term success.

On the one hand, competition can encourage people to work harder and improve their abilities. When individuals compete with others, they often set higher goals for themselves and try to perform better. For example, students may study harder when they know that they are competing for high grades or scholarships. Similarly, employees may become more productive when they have the opportunity to receive a promotion based on their performance. Competition can also prepare people for real-life situations because many areas of life require individuals to deal with challenges and perform under pressure.

On the other hand, cooperation has several important advantages. Working together allows people to share their knowledge, skills and ideas, which can lead to better results. In the workplace, for instance, a team of employees can complete a difficult project more effectively by dividing the responsibilities according to each person's strengths. Cooperation is also important in schools because students can learn from one another and develop communication and teamwork skills. In addition, excessive competition can sometimes create stress, jealousy and unhealthy relationships between people.

In my opinion, a balance between competition and cooperation is the best approach. Healthy competition can motivate individuals to improve themselves, but cooperation is essential when people need to solve complex problems together. For example, employees can compete for promotions while still cooperating with their colleagues to achieve the overall goals of their company.

In conclusion, competition can encourage people to work harder and achieve better results, whereas cooperation helps people share ideas and achieve common goals. Although both are valuable, I believe that cooperation should be given greater importance, particularly in workplaces and educational environments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both competition and cooperation before providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed, such as the explanation of how competition drives productivity and how cooperation facilitates complex problem-solving. The examples provided, such as students competing for scholarships and employees dividing tasks based on strengths, are relevant and effectively support the arguments. The conclusion synthesizes the points well and reinforces the writer's stance. The essay is balanced and fully meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in perspective. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Similarly', 'In addition', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader through the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The writer uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'productivity', 'long-term success', 'complex problems', and 'educational environments'. The word choice is generally precise, and there are no significant errors in collocation or spelling. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional clauses ('When individuals compete...') and subordinate clauses ('...which can lead to better results'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The grammar is consistent, and there are no slips that impede communication. While the range of structures is solid, incorporating a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, would further elevate the score.

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