Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31
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)
It is believed by many that competitions at workplace, at school and in our day to day life is a good thing whereas others believe that that instead of competing with each other it would more beneficial if we cooperate more. In this essay, it is going to discuss both sides and give my opinion.
On the one hand, many people are arguing that competing against each other is a good thing. They think that if they can win against other then they would be more talented and be recognized. From the early times, it has been this way such as in our schools there are first, second and third positions and if we are good or not depends on these evaluations. Consequently, it can damage the children's motivation and also cause mental problems like depressions.
On the other hand, instead of competing against each other we can cooperate. If we work with others then we can get more creative. For instance, if a student don't know the solution of one question then that student can ask his\her classmates for answers. This can not only promotes the teamwork but also enhance their ability to learn. Therefore, rather than fighting with each other we can work together and be more motivated and feel inspired.
In my opinion, it is important to cooperate but it is also essential to compete. A person can feel more motivated and inspired if other person is more talented and also starts to work hard to beat that person. Hence, it is important to have of those but in moderation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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. For instance, the paragraph discussing competition focuses heavily on the negative aspects (mental health) rather than explaining why it is considered a 'good thing' as the prompt requires. The argument for cooperation is better supported with a practical example. To improve, ensure that the benefits of competition are explored with the same depth as the drawbacks, and provide more nuanced reasoning for your final opinion to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Consequently' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the phrase 'it is going to discuss' which lacks a clear subject. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'evaluations' and 'moderation,' but the range remains somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'fighting with each other' in the context of a workplace or school, which is a bit informal or hyperbolic. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic synonyms to enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('competitions... is a good thing', 'a student don't know') and missing articles. Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'it has been this way' and 'have of those'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and verb forms would significantly improve the accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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