Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-04

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)

Competition is a common part of modern life. Some people believe that competition at work, school and in everyday life is beneficial, while others think that cooperation is more important. In my opinion, although competition can motivate people to improve, cooperation is more beneficial in the long term.

On the one hand, competition can encourage people to work harder and achieve their goals. At school, for example, students may study more seriously when they compete with their classmates for good grades. Similarly, competition between employees can encourage them to become more productive and develop new skills. Furthermore, competition can help people become more confident and teach them how to deal with both success and failure. Therefore, a healthy level of competition can be useful for personal and professional development.

On the other hand, cooperation can create a more supportive and positive environment. When people work together, they can share their knowledge, ideas and skills to achieve a common goal. For instance, employees who cooperate with each other can complete difficult projects more effectively than people who only focus on competing. At school, group activities also teach students important skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Excessive competition, however, may cause stress and jealousy and can damage relationships between people and their family.

In conclusion, competition can encourage people to work harder and improve themselves, whereas cooperation helps people achieve goals together and maintain better relationships. I believe a balance between the two is ideal, but cooperation should be given greater importance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

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 relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of students studying for grades and the benefits of group work in professional settings. While the ideas are well-developed, the essay could reach a higher band by providing more nuanced analysis or deeper exploration of the 'daily life' aspect mentioned in the prompt, rather than focusing primarily on school and work. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a logical structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two sides of the argument is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different viewpoints. The flow of information is natural, and the conclusion successfully synthesizes the arguments presented. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure contributes to a coherent and easy-to-follow response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'professional development', 'productive', and 'supportive environment'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly. To improve, the student could incorporate more varied synonyms and less common lexical items to demonstrate greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('When people work together, they can...') and contrastive clauses ('although competition can...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the range of structures is solid, it is not particularly adventurous. The writing is accurate, and there are no errors that impede communication. The control over grammar is consistent, supporting the clarity of the arguments presented.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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