Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23
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 6.5)
It is argued by many people that competition in school, workplace and in daily life is a good thing, while others believe that people should cooperate more rather than competing with each other. In my opinion, although competition helps individuals to perform better, cooperation is more important for society overall.
On the one hand, competition brings several benefits to individuals. When people compete in school or work, they try to put extra effort to achieve success. For example, students study harder to get top marks in exams when they see their classmates achieving high scores. Similarly, in the workplace, competition encourages employees to complete targets faster and get promotions or financial bonuses. Therefore, competing against others can act as a strong motivation for people to improve their skills and work efficiently.
On the other hand, cooperation is essential because major tasks cannot be finished by a single person. When people collaborate at work or in school, they can share different ideas and solve complex problems easily. Furthermore, in daily life, helping each other creates stronger relationships and reduces stress. If people are always competing, it can lead to negative feelings like jealousy and conflict among individuals. For instance, in many corporate offices, big projects are completed successfully only because of teamwork rather than individual performance. Thus, working together brings harmony and better results.
In conclusion, although competition plays a key role in driving personal effort and performance, I believe that cooperation is much more important. Encouraging teamwork allows society to progress smoothly and creates a healthy environment for everyone.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
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 relevant and supported by examples, such as students studying for marks and corporate teamwork. The development is logical, though the arguments could be slightly more extended to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on 'daily life' is a bit brief compared to the workplace examples. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Thus' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. The flow of the argument is easy to follow, and the relationship between sentences is clear, demonstrating a good command of organizational features.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses relevant topic-specific terms like 'financial bonuses', 'individual performance', and 'harmony'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to demonstrate greater flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a high level of accuracy, with most sentences being error-free. The use of conditional structures ('If people are always competing...') and complex noun phrases shows good control. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammar does not interfere with the reader's understanding. While the range of structures is solid, incorporating more varied subordinate clauses or passive constructions could further enhance the grammatical complexity of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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