Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

While it is often argued that, competition in daily life such as at work, at school is good, others contend that we ought to try to be more cooperative with each other. From my perspective, I am inclined to agree that, competing with each other brings more success in our lives.

There is an opinion that, while competing, we feel challenges which ultimately yield better results from an individual, and I completely believe that. For instance, in school, when good students in a group show competitiveness, they always try to overcome others by achieving better results. This type of competition helps students to move forward with others in the same curriculum and environment. That is why, players like Messi and Ronaldo always felt pressure when others scored or got awards, which led them to try to be better than before, which eventually made both of them great players. Some individuals also consider that, humans are naturally driven to compare themselves with others. We may lag behind and cannot measure success when we work alone. That is why, children learn well in a school rather than at home. The school environment helps a child to learn, to compete. Therefore, it is needed to have a competitive mentality in order to make progress in our lives.

By contrast, those who disagree believe that, cooperation brings more success. Some consider that, it brings more achievements in life when we work collaboratively. For instance, research shows that, in a company, employees who work together in a healthy environment, it eventually brings a lot more success than the employees who work in a competitive environment and show selfishness. Each employee has a different skill and if they share their knowledge, it will be beneficial for all. There is another opinion that, life is not a place of competition. We should support others who are lag behind. For example, if a family member is poor and can not provide for his or her family, it is our responsibility to help them instead of ignoring them or moving forward without them.

Summing up, while opinions may vary, I consider that daily competition in every aspect of life brings more success in student life as well as in the workplace.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both competition and cooperation while clearly stating a personal position. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported with examples, such as the mention of Messi and Ronaldo to illustrate competitive drive. However, the development of the cooperative argument is slightly less nuanced than the competitive one. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-arguments are explored with the same depth as the primary argument, perhaps by acknowledging the specific contexts where cooperation is objectively superior rather than just stating it as an alternative view.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For instance', 'By contrast', and 'Summing up', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the use of commas is occasionally intrusive, which disrupts the flow of sentences. For example, 'There is an opinion that, while competing...' uses unnecessary punctuation that breaks the natural rhythm. Improving the variety and subtlety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language like 'competitive mentality', 'collaboratively', and 'curriculum'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'it is needed to have a competitive mentality' or 'it eventually brings a lot more success'. To improve, the writer should focus on more precise collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary to convey ideas with greater sophistication and nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent errors in punctuation, particularly the overuse of commas after 'that' or within clauses (e.g., 'I completely believe that. For instance...'). There are also minor grammatical slips, such as 'those who are lag behind' instead of 'those who lag behind' or 'it is needed to have'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and refining punctuation control would significantly improve the grammatical profile.

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