Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 7.5)

Competition and Cooperation are two fundamentals of human interaction, and while some people support competition in all aspects of life, other prefer to work together. In my opinion , while competition can drive individual achievement, cooperation is more beneficial for growth.

Those who advocate for competition assert that it is a powerful motivator that pushes individuals to excel. In educational settings, it can encourage students to achieve higher academic standards. Students who strive to be at the top of their class, for instance, may put in more effort and perform better on exams. Similarly, at work, competition can lead to increased productivity and innovation. Employees competing for promotions or bonuses are likely to be driven to develop creative solutions to problems.

On the other hand, environments which incentivize working together are more supportive. At school, cooperative learning methods, such as group projects, can help students develop essential social skills, including communication, empathy, and teamwork. These skills are crucial for both academic success and personal development. In the workplace, a cooperative culture can enhance collaboration and lead to more innovative and efficient problem-solving. Teams that work well together can produce better outcomes, as opposed to environments where competition creates pressure and burnout. A cutthroat atmosphere from excessive struggles and rivalries can result in a toxic culture where employees prioritize personal gain over collective achievement, ultimately harming the organization's overall performance.

In conclusion, while competition can drive individual achievement and innovation, I believe that working together is more conducive to long-term success and well-being. Encouraging cooperative behaviors, therefore, can lead to more harmonious and productive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both the benefits of competition and the advantages of cooperation, while maintaining a consistent personal position throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of group projects in schools and the impact of a 'cutthroat' atmosphere in the workplace. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your arguments and reinforces your stance. The response is balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is skillful, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is well-managed throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'incentivize working together', 'conducive to long-term success', and 'harmonious and productive environments' show a level of sophistication. While the vocabulary is generally precise, there is room to incorporate more idiomatic or less common collocations to reach the highest band. The word choice is accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication. The language used is natural and fits the formal tone required for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'while competition can drive... cooperation is more beneficial'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are only very occasional minor slips, such as the slight spacing error in 'In my opinion ,'. Overall, the grammatical accuracy is high, and the range of structures used is sufficient to support your arguments effectively.

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