Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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)

Few people think that competative environment at work, school or in daily life is a good thing. Meanwhile, other believe that cooperating more benefits better rather then competing each other. I personally think that competition is a good thing but cooperation is vital part to gain good result in a task. I believe that human mind works better when thing are organised in head. In the subsequent paragrapghs, I will explain why rather then competing with each other you should consider cooperating more.

Foe instance, If we look around a bit, we will see that there are many successful people who listens and cooperate with each other considering the root of problem. Rather then being selfish and trying to do all thing by themselves and messing up the given task it is better to discuss with people of your department. That way you will focus more on solution and the outcome will be good.

On the other hand, competition will cause pressure and anxiety to do best than others and sometimes people are depressed just because of it. The focus losses and productivity is at risk. The more you try to do better then others the more you doubt your worth. So it is better to be more cooperative because cooperation will lead you to a good human being down to earth. It will make you humble and kind.

In my conclusion, cooperation leads to better results then competing against each other because the focus and results comes with better cooperation that you listen and perform efficently.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that competition causes 'pressure and anxiety' and cooperation leads to 'better results', these points are not fully extended with specific, concrete examples. The introduction is slightly confusing, as it initially states that 'few people think' competition is good, which contradicts the prompt's premise. To improve, ensure your arguments are more thoroughly supported with detailed explanations or real-world illustrations, and ensure your introduction accurately reflects the prompt's context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In my conclusion'. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'In the subsequent paragraphs, I will explain...'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that connects back to your central thesis.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'benefits better rather then competing' and 'the focus losses'. You rely on relatively simple vocabulary throughout the essay. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic terminology and collocations. For example, instead of 'good result', use 'optimal outcomes' or 'enhanced productivity'. Pay closer attention to spelling, as 'competative' and 'paragrapghs' are incorrect.

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 the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'people who listens'), incorrect word forms (e.g., 'cooperative' vs 'cooperation'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb endings and the correct use of prepositions and articles.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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