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)
Most of the individuals believe that competing with others in several things like work , school , and daily lifes is a positive thing. Whilst , some people think that individuals should tend to cooperate with each other , rather competing with each other. According to my opinion , both the statement have their own views and ideas. It can not only a positive thing but also cannot be considered as a negative thing.
Nowadays a huge number of population is trying to compete with each other in many ways. All of them want to earn or live better than others and nobody is ready to help any human being. For example , in our nation everybody feels jealous by looking at each other developments. This thing can be a solid issue for the individuals who are not ready to cooperate with each other , Although they know that its a negative sign for them , But they do not step back from this they always try to copy others rather than cooperate with them.
On the other side individuals must cooperate with each other because it can help them in several ways like they would be able to develop their own by having advices as well as options. This situation can also be best for the nation development as all would work together and develop their country together.
As a conclusion , I Would like to suggest that people should neither compete with others nor properly cooperate with others , For it is totally depend on the situation , So individuals should take action according to the situation by keeping every thing in mind properly.
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, but the development of ideas is limited and somewhat repetitive. While you mention that competition can be negative and cooperation can lead to national development, these points lack specific, well-developed examples. The conclusion is somewhat contradictory, as you suggest that people should neither compete nor cooperate, which undermines the clarity of your position. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a clear, distinct argument supported by a concrete example or logical explanation, and maintain a consistent stance throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression between ideas is sometimes weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as the awkward transition 'Whilst , some people...' and the incorrect capitalization and punctuation after 'Although' and 'But'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of your argument. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that your punctuation does not interrupt the flow of your sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'things', 'good', and 'bad', and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'jealous by looking at each other developments'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'develop their own' (which is incomplete) and 'nation development'. To improve, try to incorporate more academic vocabulary and collocations related to the topic of social interaction and professional environments.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include incorrect article usage ('a huge number of population'), subject-verb agreement, and persistent punctuation errors, such as placing spaces before commas. The sentence structure is often fragmented, particularly in the second paragraph. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement, and refining your use of complex structures like relative clauses or conditional sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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