Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Individuals hold differing opinions on whether it is healthy to compete with others at work or at school, or should they cooperate more with each other. Both views are valid and have their own reasoning. I personally think healthy competition is needed in our daily lives.

People who share the same opinion as me may think that in order to strive for the best, both at school and workplace, competition is needed to some extent, given it is not a toxic competition. This is because if we do not compete, we may be stuck in our comfort zone and it will become harder for us to push ourselves to our full potential. If we have someone that inspires us, and we wish to become like that person, we have to put efforts rather than simply doing wishful thinking. For example, if the top student in your class always gets the best grades, and you wish it would be you one day, it can be motivating if you put on some competitive spirit and push yourself to their level to achieve the same goal.

However, some individuals hold the view that we should try to cooperate rather than being in competition. This point of view is best explained by the mindset of people who prefer peace and comfort in their lives. People like this may refuse to compete because they simply have made peace with themself regarding their situation and abilities. These people may think it will be best to avoid conflict that comes with competition and thus they try to steer clear of pushing themselves and others, because they want stability and peace in their life. For example, a regular employee may avoid competition with the best employee in the company, because they fear they would not be good enough and so they make do with their current position and deem it as satisfactory.

In conclusion, both opinions hold weight for the right reasons, depending on the personality of the individual in question. However, i personally believe that some competition is always necessary in today's day and age, where people are always racing towards success , and are trying hard to be the best in this race called life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of competition and the merits of cooperation. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, such as the example of the top student to illustrate the motivational aspect of competition. However, the development of the 'cooperation' paragraph is slightly weaker; it focuses more on why people avoid competition due to a desire for comfort rather than exploring the inherent benefits of a cooperative environment. To reach a higher band, ensure both sides of the argument are explored with equal depth and nuance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'This is because', 'However', and 'In conclusion' to link your thoughts effectively. While the structure is sound, the transition between the two body paragraphs could be smoother to better highlight the contrast between the two viewpoints. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the flow of information is consistent throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'strive for the best', 'push ourselves to our full potential', and 'steer clear of' are used appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'put on some competitive spirit' (should be 'adopt' or 'embrace') and 'made peace with themself' (should be 'themselves'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items would help elevate the score. The current range is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show good control over basic grammar, and your meaning is always clear. There are some minor errors, such as 'should they cooperate' (which should be a statement rather than a question in this context) and 'put efforts' (should be 'put in effort'). Punctuation is generally correct, although there is an unnecessary space before the comma in the final sentence. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, focus on refining subject-verb agreement and avoiding minor stylistic slips.

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

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