Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

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)

There are widely differing views on whether competition or cooperation is more advantageous in work, school, and daily life. Whilst some believe competition motivates individuals to excel, others think cooperation fosters a supportive and productive environment. Personally, I advocate for a balanced approach, recognizing the merits of both competition and cooperation.

On one hand, competition can be a powerful driving force. This is because it encourages individuals to strive for excellence, resulting in higher performance and innovation. For instance, in educational settings, students who compete for top grades often invest significant effort into their studies, leading to a deeper understanding of the material and better academic outcomes. Similarly, in the workplace, competition can motivate employees to enhance their skills and productivity, ultimately benefiting the company’s performance. Thus, competition can be instrumental in promoting personal and organizational growth.

Conversely, cooperation is essential for cultivating a harmonious and efficient environment. One major reason for this is that collaborative efforts often lead to more effective problem-solving and innovation as they combine diverse perspectives and skills. For example, in team projects at school or work, individuals who collaborate can leverage each other's strengths to achieve a common goal more efficiently than if they worked alone. Additionally, a cooperative environment can reduce stress and foster a sense of community and support, which is crucial for mental health and well-being. Therefore, cooperation is invaluable in fostering teamwork, enhancing relationships, and creating a positive atmosphere.

In conclusion, while competition can drive individuals to achieve their best, cooperation is vital for creating a supportive and efficient environment. However, I strongly feel that a balanced approach that incorporates both competition and cooperation, depending on the context, can yield the most beneficial outcomes. By recognizing when to compete and when to collaborate, individuals and organizations can harness the strengths of both approaches to achieve their goals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by discussing both views—competition and cooperation—and providing a clear personal opinion throughout the essay. The introduction clearly outlines the two perspectives and states the writer's position for a balanced approach. Body paragraph one thoroughly examines the benefits of competition with relevant examples in education and the workplace, while body paragraph two effectively explores the advantages of cooperation through problem-solving and well-being. Ideas are well developed and extended logically, leading to a natural conclusion that synthesises the arguments. This performance fully meets the criteria for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the arguments for competition, the arguments for cooperation, and finally a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Whilst', 'On one hand', 'Conversely', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively and flexibly to guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is managed very well, ensuring that ideas are grouped logically. Referencing is clear and appropriate. Overall, the structural flow is smooth, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items are used with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'advantageous', 'fosters a supportive and productive environment', 'driving force', 'cultivating a harmonious', and 'leverage each other's strengths'. Word choice and spelling are generally very accurate, with only occasional minor imperfections. The vocabulary successfully conveys precise meanings without impeding communication, matching the descriptors for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer successfully employs subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and participial phrases (e.g., 'By recognizing when to compete and when to collaborate...'). Punctuation is handled securely throughout the text, and grammatical control is consistently strong from the first paragraph to the last. This level of syntactic flexibility and accuracy aligns comfortably with a Band 8 score.

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