Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, competition is common at work, at school and in everyday life. Some people believe that competition is beneficial because it encourages people to work harder, while other think that cooperation is more important. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe that a balance between competition and cooperation is the best approach.

On the one hand, competition can have several advantages. Firstly, it motivates people to improve their skills and achieve better results. For example, students who compete with their classmates may study harder to get higher grades. Similarly, competition between employees can encourage them to work more efficiently and develop new ideas. In business, competition can also improve the quality of products and services because companies try to attract more customers.

On the other hand, cooperation is also extremely important in both professional and personal life. When people work together, they can share their knowledge, skills and experience to achieve a common goal. For instance, employees who cooperate with each other can complete difficult projects more effectively than individuals working alone. Moreover, excessive competition can sometimes create stress, jealousy and unhealthy relationship, particular when people focus only on defeating others.

In my opinion, competition is useful because it encourages people to improve themselves, but cooperation is equally important for achieving long-term success. Therefore, people should compete in a healthy way while also being willing to support and cooperate with other.

In conclusion, competition can motivate individuals and improve performance, whereas cooperation allows people to achieve common goals and maintain positive relationships. I believe that society should encourage both, but cooperation should be given slightly more importance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both the benefits of competition and the importance of cooperation, and you have provided a clear personal opinion throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of students and business environments. The position is consistent, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments while offering a nuanced final stance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the 'daily life' aspect mentioned in the prompt more explicitly, as the current focus is primarily on work and school.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Similarly', and 'Moreover'. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The transition between the discussion of competition and cooperation is smooth, and the final opinion is well-integrated into the structure. The flow is natural and consistent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'achieve a common goal', 'excessive competition', and 'maintain positive relationships' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and clear, it is mostly functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or less common academic vocabulary. For instance, instead of 'good thing', you could use 'constructive force' or 'catalyst for progress'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions effectively, such as 'because', 'while', and 'when'. The grammar is generally accurate, with only a few minor slips, such as 'other think' (should be 'others think') and 'unhealthy relationship' (should be plural 'relationships'). These errors are non-systematic and do not interfere with the reader's understanding. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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