Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
People have differing views about whether having competition or cooperation plays important role at school, work places or in daily life chores. While some argue competition encourages to perform at their best, others think that cooperation leads to success or stronger relationship. This essay will discuss both perspectives before I believe that balance in both opinion matters a lot.
On one hand people have the opinion to compete to achieve their goals. For example, In schools student learn more diligently when they compete for grades or scholarships. As at work places, employees have competition to get higher ranks or more skills. It can create a negative or stressful environment at work places or also in our daily life. Competition between family members can cause serious damage to relationships.
On the other hand, many people believe that cooperation is more valuable. It helps to encourage people to work harder in work life. In school, if students help each other, share knowledge or information then all of them can perform better. It will be a group achievement. Furthermore, cooperation reduce stress or creates a positive environment. A good habit of helping each other brings peace in our daily life which ultimately impact on our health or well being.
In conclusion, although competition motivates people to excel, I believe that cooperation is more beneficial. As it brings long term success, harmony, effective communication or teamwork. Nevertheless, a healthy level of competition can also be useful in limited situations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the response is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which impacts the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief. For instance, the discussion on competition in schools and workplaces is quite general and could have been supported with more specific examples or deeper analysis to fully meet the requirements of a Band 7. The conclusion is clear, but the overall development of the arguments remains somewhat superficial due to the limited length.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each perspective, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. For example, the transition from the benefits of competition to its negative effects within the same paragraph lacks a smooth connector. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the logical progression could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'diligently' and 'harmony', but the range is somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly repetitive or imprecise, such as 'daily life chores' or 'work life'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the lack of a wider range of collocations and more precise academic vocabulary prevents a higher score. The language is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for Band 7.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'competition encourages to perform' (missing object), 'As at work places' (awkward phrasing), and 'cooperation reduce stress' (subject-verb agreement error). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. A greater variety of error-free complex structures is needed to demonstrate the control required for Band 7.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.