Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11
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)
There is ongoing debate about whether the competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. However, some individuals believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against. In my opinion, competing with others at work, at school or in daily life is pretty good and we will do have fun.
One of the key benefits of competing with others is having more challenging tasks and fun also. Competitors might be students, teachers, citizens and much more. Every individual can compete with other in different sectors such as sports, culture, or any other one. This is particularly more beneficial for younger peoples, students and the individuals who are working at different sectors. For instance, students must participate in different sports because it will be more beneficial for their physical fitness and they will be active in younger ages.
On the other hand, some people believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other. And I strongly opposes this statement because, if we started cooperating with others, rather than competing against them so they will be completely relied on cooperation from other individuals and never-ever they try to do something challenging. It would be a nightmare for our entire country, specially it target our younger generation those who are on their growing up stage. And this will lead far more consequences in future.
From my own experience, when I was in grade 11, I was completely relied on my friends that they will help me in my exams and they really helped me but, now in my professional life, I am dealing with several consequences like I do not have any skills because I focused on relying on others, rather than focusing on my own skills. And now I am struggling in finding jobs. In my opinion, we must compete with others and do much more challenging tasks to improve your skills.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument against cooperation is supported by a personal anecdote that is slightly tangential to the broader societal implications of competition. While the position is consistent, the reasoning lacks depth, particularly in the second paragraph where the explanation of why competition is 'fun' is repetitive and lacks academic rigor. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced analysis of how competition drives innovation or how cooperation fosters teamwork, rather than relying on personal anecdotes or simple assertions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand' and 'For instance', to link your points. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'And I strongly opposes this statement'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The use of cohesive devices is sufficient to guide the reader, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. You use basic phrases like 'pretty good', 'do much more', and 'do something challenging'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'far more consequences' and 'younger ages'. While the meaning is always clear, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and varying your word choices to avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('I strongly opposes'), incorrect verb forms ('we will do have fun'), and awkward phrasing ('they will be completely relied on'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. While these errors do not prevent communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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