Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
People have different opinions on whether competition should be a significant habit at work and in school or cooperation should be a major attribute for everyone. While both arguments have some merits, personally I believe team work should be hold at high esteem. This essay will discuss both perspectives and give my opinion.
On the one hand, the principal reason why some people feel competitive spirit should be promoted in all sectors is because it driven passion and enhance more effort . Firstly, competition among staffs, companies and students often foster the ability to strive hard, in order to achieve greater success. For instance, a student that has an in-built competitive spirit will always study harder so that he can obtain higher grades than his classmates. Secondly, competition also enhances the ability to input more effort in a given task. People who possess this personality often strive hard in others to complete a given assignment.
On the other hand, the primary reason why I agree with the people that believe cooperation is the more important than competition is because working as group often assist people to share ideas and experiences. Although everyone does not have similar brain capacity, when ideas are been shared people with low and high IQ usually benefit. For instance, when a group of staff from different levels work together in order to solve a sophisticated company's problem, ideas and different solutions will be brought forward. Furthermore, two heads can achieve and resolve an issue quickly. If many individuals come together as a group to solve a puzzle, they find a solution quicker because people will exchange information and assist each other.
In conclusion, Although some people argue that competition is beneficial because it boost one's passion and facilitate more energy input, cooperation is more essential because it fosters team work and promotes exchange of ideas and information which will benefit the societies and business sectors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
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 ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the benefits of collaborative problem-solving. However, the development of the 'competition' argument is slightly repetitive, as the points about 'striving hard' and 'inputting more effort' overlap significantly. To reach a higher band, the student should ensure each supporting point provides a distinct perspective or a more nuanced example. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'when ideas are been shared' which lacks a clear antecedent. The flow is generally smooth, but the connection between sentences could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'sophisticated' and 'in-built', which are used correctly. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'team work should be hold at high esteem' (should be 'held in high esteem') and 'driven passion' (should be 'drives passion'). These errors do not impede communication, but they highlight a need for more precise control over word forms and idiomatic expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and passive voice constructions. Examples include 'team work should be hold' (should be 'held'), 'it driven passion' (should be 'it drives passion'), and 'ideas are been shared' (should be 'are being shared'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage issues. The student demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, but the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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