Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Some people believe that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others belive that we should try to help more, rather than competing against each other.

Firstly, the idea of competition at school and work in daily routine is a considered to be a good thing. Due to the reason that when someone finds himself in a sense of competition they automatically start to work with more interest and hardwork. So,competition sometimes play a significant role. For instance, when a student sees a high competition in studies and skills he tries to work more on his work and skills. In this case the competition is considered to be good because it plays a constructive role in the development of a society and a nation.

Secondly, the belief for cooperate more rather than competing against each other is also a good sense. Due to the reason that when we will help each other in doing better than we would be able to do more not only for ourselves but for our beloved country. Inshort, we could be able to do more when we work as a single unit. It will bore fruits for us. For example, if a bunch of men try to get their basic rights they may face defeat but if they able to gather a nation or more men with them this will add power to their group and they would surely face the taste of success.

In conclusion, i would say that to an extent competition is good but it is not that powerful to match the level of cooperation. Because when we work together we are not only saving time but also saving our power. And the most useful part is that we are able to do a better work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for competition is supported by a brief example about students, but it lacks depth. Similarly, the cooperation argument uses a generic example about 'a bunch of men' seeking rights, which is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific, detailed examples or logical explanations that connect your ideas more thoroughly to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some linking phrases are used incorrectly, such as 'Due to the reason that', which is non-standard. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall logical flow of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing like 'good thing' and 'work more'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'it will bore fruits' (should be 'bear fruit') and 'a good sense' (which does not accurately describe a viewpoint). To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that are appropriate for a formal essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'competition sometimes play' (subject-verb agreement), 'if they able to gather' (missing verb), and 'i would say' (capitalization). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tense usage, and ensuring that all clauses have a clear subject and verb.

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

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