Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 9.0)

Here is a Band 8.0 model essay written for your topic on Competition vs. Cooperation.

Model Essay

It is frequently debated whether individuals benefit more from a competitive mindset or a collaborative approach in academic, professional, and personal spheres. While cooperation plays a vital role in building harmonious communities and achieving shared objectives, I firmly believe that healthy competition is the primary catalyst for personal growth, innovation, and high achievement.

On the one hand, proponents of cooperation argue that working together fosters a supportive environment essential for collective success. In modern workplaces and educational institutions, complex challenges rarely require a single genius; instead, they demand interdisciplinary teamwork and effective communication. Collaborative settings encourage empathy, reduce personal anxiety, and ensure that skills are pooled to solve multi-faceted problems. For example, scientific breakthroughs or large-scale corporate ventures are almost always the result of team effort rather than isolated rivalry. Therefore, prioritizing mutual support over individual dominance helps maintain social cohesion and yields stable, long-term outputs.

On the other hand, competition acts as an indispensable driver of individual excellence and self-improvement. When individuals compete, they are pushed beyond their comfort zones to refine their capabilities and maximize their potential. Without the incentive to outperform others or surpass past benchmarks, societies risk stagnation, as people may lack the motivation to strive for exceptional results. For instance, in top-tier academia or corporate leadership, limited prestigious positions naturally necessitate a competitive selection process, ensuring that only the most dedicated and talented candidates rise to the top. When conducted in a healthy manner, competing does not undermine others; rather, it sets higher standards for everyone involved.

In conclusion, while cooperation is undeniably valuable for team dynamics and social stability, I am convinced that a competitive spirit is far more crucial for driving personal excellence and societal progress. Striking a balance between the two is ideal, but competition remains the true engine of individual development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both the benefits of cooperation and the necessity of competition, while maintaining a consistent and well-supported personal position throughout. The arguments are logically developed, with relevant examples such as scientific breakthroughs for cooperation and corporate leadership for competition. The introduction and conclusion effectively frame the discussion, ensuring the reader understands your stance from the outset. The ideas are extended and supported with depth, meeting the criteria for a high band score by providing a balanced yet decisive analysis of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The essay demonstrates a logical flow of ideas, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. The transition between the two viewpoints is seamless, using effective signposting such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively, such as 'instead', 'therefore', and 'rather', which help to connect sentences and clauses smoothly. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion, contributing to a clear and professional structure that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary, using precise collocations and academic terminology. Phrases such as 'primary catalyst', 'interdisciplinary teamwork', 'social cohesion', and 'stagnation' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is not only varied but also highly appropriate for the formal tone of an IELTS Academic Task 2 essay. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the use of less common lexical items is skilful and contributes to the overall clarity and impact of your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences, participial phrases, and varied sentence lengths. The control over punctuation and syntax is excellent, with no errors that impede communication. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few complex structures used are handled with full flexibility. The use of modal verbs and subordinating conjunctions is accurate, demonstrating a high level of grammatical competence that allows for the clear expression of nuanced ideas.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.