Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29

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)

Some people believe that competition is a good motivating skill where other people think to cooperate others is better than competing. While for me competition is more valuable than cooperate. No doubt i help others very much, but somehow i feel competition is the way to success.

To begin with, it is happening that if students are not take challenge then they may not focus on their goal. Other students are good in study, game and different traits because they are competitive mind. For instance, when i was in school, that time i was scored highest mark in all classes. So , i always think how other will not reach that point. That time the challenging mindset was there, how i scored top ,how to read that others can not follow me . So for this reason i resulted the highest mark. However i believe that while you are in school, office or in daily life if you are not competing each other, then may be your focus and motivating capacity will not increase. In competition work you fill energetic and motivate .

Secondly, i always set a goal and reach that point anyhow. I choose motivation, self knowledge and some hard work. Even i agree we should try to cooperate others but not much . Whereas in school when someone asked me some doubts then i give my knowledge to them but always aware that others can not be top . When me and my friends competing to score better, then i feel we study and focus more. Those who have not in this mind set they were just study and gained some mark. So, i suggest you always be competitive , stay focus to achieve your dream and goal. I think when you have not competitive, then you are not hungry for your desire goal. But simultaneously, you always support others. Moreover, you don't have ego, attitude in your mind . When some one need your help then you should not hesitated to help them.

In conclusion, i believe that cooperate to others is good thing, while also focus on competitive how to go your goal . Fix a level to get always that point and also helping others . Helping and distribute knowledge is good thing to cooperate others.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. The arguments for competition are centered on personal anecdotes rather than broader societal or professional implications, which limits the depth of the discussion. While the position is consistent, the supporting points lack sophistication and the explanation of why cooperation is secondary is not fully explored. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more balanced, analytical arguments that go beyond personal experience, ensuring each point is fully extended with clear reasoning and relevant examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the frequent use of 'i' (which should be capitalized) and awkward transitions like 'It is happening that if students are not take challenge'. The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by grammatical errors, making the flow feel disjointed. While there is an attempt to use linking words like 'To begin with', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion', the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking phrases would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary range is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use words like 'good', 'goal', and 'competing', which limits the precision of your arguments. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'cooperate others' (should be 'cooperate with others') and 'competing each other' (should be 'competing with each other'). To improve, you should focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms to express your ideas more precisely. The current level of vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('students are not take challenge'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain errors that make them difficult to parse, such as 'When me and my friends competing to score better'. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, you must focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that verbs are correctly conjugated and that pronouns and prepositions are used accurately. Consistent proofreading to correct basic errors would help improve your score.

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

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