Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 is an integral part of modern life, whether in the workplace, education or society. While some people consider it beneficial because it encourages individuals to perform better, others believe that cooperation is more valuable. In my view, although healthy competition has certain advantages, cooperation is ultimately more beneficial.

On the one hand, competition can motivate people to improve their performance. When individuals compete with others, they often set higher goals and work harder to achieve them. For example, students may study more consistently when they know that their classmates are achieving excellent grades. Similarly, competition between companies can encourage them to develop better products and provide more efficient services. Therefore, a reasonable level of competition can promote ambition, innovation and personal development.

On the other hand, excessive competition can create stress and damage relationships. People who are constantly focused on outperforming others may become unwilling to share knowledge or support their colleagues. In contrast, cooperation allows individuals to combine their skills and work towards a common objective. For instance, employees working as a team can divide responsibilities according to their strengths, often producing better results than individuals working against one another. Cooperation is particularly important in areas such as healthcare and scientific research, where achieving a shared goal is more important than individual success.

In conclusion, competition can encourage people to work harder and achieve higher standards, but excessive rivalry may create unnecessary pressure and conflict. I believe that cooperation should be given greater importance, while healthy competition should be maintained as a means of encouraging improvement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task effectively. You have clearly presented both sides of the argument—the benefits of competition and the value of cooperation—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the comparison between student performance and corporate innovation. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the nuances of how these two concepts might coexist in specific professional environments, which would add more depth to your analysis.

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 paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate linking phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'In contrast'. Cohesive devices are used effectively without being repetitive or mechanical. The structure is balanced, and the conclusion successfully synthesizes the main points while reiterating your stance. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument, making the essay very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'integral part', 'outperforming others', and 'shared goal' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and helps convey your meaning clearly. While the range is sufficient, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further. For instance, instead of 'better results', you could use 'superior outcomes'. Overall, the lexical control is strong, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('When individuals compete...') and concessive clauses ('Although healthy competition has...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. Because the writing is almost entirely free of errors and uses a good mix of simple and complex forms, it meets the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

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