Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26
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)
Competition at work , at school or in daily life things can be a good thing as it can help the individual improve for better. If we have an example of someone doing a particular activity thing better than other, it gives us motivation to do it better than the other. For example, in sports if runner have a goal personal best to achieve only then he/she can be good at his work and can get what the person is working towards. Similarly at work, if a person has completed a the yearly target gives us a push to successfully complete our tasks. In schools cometition can be considered with respect to grades received.
As far as there are advantages of competing there are also many disadvantages. These disadvantages can be with human emotions. If a person tries to achieve something and fails, it can lead to causes such depression or feeling of jeleousy. Which can disturb the everyday routine and mental health of a person causing health issues. At schools, if a student does not achieve the desirable awards or grades can lead to fights between friends, as kids till certain age are immature and don't have the knowledge of how to handle particular situation.
I woul d like to conclude by stating competition is good if it is healthy and within the known limits of an individual. It should get you overboard with anything beyond your limits. A healthy competition is always encouraged and is a good sign of sportsman spirit.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the points regarding the negative impacts of competition, such as 'depression' or 'fights between friends', are mentioned but not fully explored or supported with detailed examples. The essay meets the requirements of the prompt, but the depth of analysis is closer to the Band 5 or 6 level, as the arguments remain somewhat superficial and lack the extension required for higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'For example' and 'Similarly' are used, but there is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within and between sentences. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transitions between the benefits and drawbacks could be smoother. The paragraphing is functional, but the overall flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'daily life things' and 'get you overboard', which sound unnatural. The student relies on basic vocabulary and struggles to use less common lexical items effectively. Spelling errors like 'jeleousy' and 'cometition' also detract from the overall quality. To improve, the student should focus on learning more precise collocations and academic vocabulary related to the topic of competition and cooperation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'If we have an example of someone doing a particular activity thing better than other' and 'if a person has completed a the yearly target'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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