Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

There is an ongoing debate about whether competetion or cooperation is more benefecial in work, education, and everyday life. While some argue that competing against others drives progress, others contend that working together produces better outcomes. In my views, although competition has its place, cooperation is far more essential for longterm success.

Those who support competition claim that it acts as a powerful motivators. When people are competing for grades, promotion, or recognition, they are more likely to push their limits and strives for excellence. For instance, in many schools, ranking systems encourage students to study harder in order to outperform their peers. Similarly, in business companies that compete with each other tend to innovate faster and offer better products to consumers. Without this competitive pressure, individuals and organizations might become complacent .

However, proponents of cooperation argue that many of the most important challenges cannot be solved by individuals working alone. Complex problems such as climate changes, medical research, and large scale infrastructure projects require people with different skills to pool their knowledge and resources. Moreover, an overly competitive environment can be demaging. It may lead to stress, rivalry, and even unethical behaviour, as people focus only on winning rather than on collective well being. In workplaces where teamwork is encouraged, employees are generally more satisfied and productive because they feel supported rather than threatened.

In my opinion, a balance is needed, but cooperation should take priority. A moderate level of competition can inspire people to improve, yet without cooperation, society cannot function effectively, The greatest achievements in history, from the development of vaccines to space exploration, have been the result of collaboration rather than rivalry.

In conclusion, while competition can boost individuals performance, cooperation is crucial for addressing complex problems and building strong communities. Therefore, we should foster a culture that values teamwork over constant competition.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both competition and cooperation before providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding innovation in business and the necessity of collaboration for global challenges. The essay is balanced and provides relevant examples, such as medical research and space exploration, to support the arguments. The response fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and ideas progress smoothly. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'push their limits', 'strives for excellence', and 'collective well-being' demonstrate a good range. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'competetion' (competition), 'benefecial' (beneficial), and 'demaging' (damaging), which are minor slips rather than systematic errors. The range is sufficient to convey complex ideas clearly and with some flexibility.

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 meaning is always clear. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'motivators' (should be singular 'a motivator') and 'individuals performance' (should be 'individuals' performance'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The control over punctuation and grammar is generally strong, supporting the overall clarity of the argument.

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