Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In recent years, competition has become an important part of people's lives particularly at workplaces and educational institutions. While some people believe that competing with others encourages individuals to achieve more, other argue that cooperation is a better approach. Although competition has certain benefits, i believe that cooperation is more beneficial overall.

To begin with, competition can motivate people to improve their performance. When individuals compete with others, they are often encouraged to work harder and achieve better results. This is because the desire to succeed or receive recognition can encourage people to develop their skills and overcome challenges. For example, students who compete for scholarships may devote more time to studies and consequently achieve higher grades. Similarly, employees may work harder when there are opportunities for promotion. Therefore, healthy competition can increase motivation and encourage individuals to reach their full potential.

On the other hand, cooperation can produce greater benefits particularly when people need to solve complex problems together. Working collaboratively allows individuals to share their knowledge, skills and ideas. Instead of focusing solely on outperforming others, people can combine their strengths to achieve a common objective. For instance, employees from different departments can work together on a business project, with each person contributing specialised knowledge to complete the task efficiently and effectively. Consequently, cooperation can improve productivity as well as strengthens relationships and also creating a more supportive environment.

In conclusion, although competition can encourage individuals to work harder and improve their performance, I believe that cooperation is more beneficial. Sharing great knowledge and different skills can help people to achieve common goals more effectively and create stronger relationships both in professional and educational settings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both competition and cooperation before clearly stating a personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as students competing for scholarships and employees collaborating on business projects. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the potential downsides of competition or the limitations of cooperation, which would demonstrate a deeper level of critical thinking. However, the current level of development is sufficient for a strong score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and ideas flow smoothly from one to the next. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. The progression of ideas is logical, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate and generally precise, allowing the writer to convey their ideas clearly. There is a good use of topic-specific language such as 'educational institutions', 'specialised knowledge', and 'collaboratively'. While the range is sufficient, it lacks the 'less common' or 'idiomatic' items that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar is generally strong. There are minor slips, such as 'strengthens relationships and also creating', where the parallel structure is slightly inconsistent. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the use of complex structures like conditional or relative clauses is handled well. The writing is clear and professional throughout.

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