Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21

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 6.0)

Some people have this opinion, that one should have competition at work, school and in daily life while others think contrary to it as they support the idea of cooperation. I support the opinion of first group, as competition is necessary for growth.

First group's opinion of competition sounds good to me, because without competition there won't be any urgency to improve in people. I remember when i was preparing for medical exam . I had no mtoivation, but my friends were preparing day and night for that exam which made me feel anxious that i will be left behind them. This feeling of competition forced me to prepare for exams. A recent study has shown that people who like to compete with their fellows have 75 percent more chances of being successful than their fellows.

Some people support cooperative mindset, which is also a good thing as cooperation is necessary for a maintaining a good environment in every aspect of life. A person who thinks that cooperation is not necessary for growth, he is totally wrong as cooperation is also an important aspect of builiding a good career alongside competition. I remember a time when i was competing with a candidate in a cooking competition. My opponent forgot to bring butter and she was very stressed about it. I had plenty of every ingredient with myself but i was also short on butter, still I offered her butter anyways. Judges were very much inspired with my cooperation that they gave me extra marks for it. So i think cooperation is also necessary alongside competition.

In conclusion, although i support the opinion of people thinking competition is necessary, it is necessary too to cooperate in your life. In this way, you can succeed while maintaining a good relation with almost everybody.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the view that competition is beneficial and the alternative view that cooperation is preferable, while also stating a clear personal opinion. The student's position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant personal examples, such as preparing for a medical exam and participating in a cooking competition. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise slightly in the supporting arguments, and the second view is perhaps less thoroughly explored than the first. Nevertheless, the main task requirements are successfully met, placing the response solidly within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range. Descriptors for Band 7 are satisfied by presenting a clear position and supporting ideas appropriately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are employed to link sentences and paragraphs, such as 'First group's opinion', 'Some people support', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'some people' and 'I remember'. While logical progression is generally maintained, the transitions between sentences lack the flexibility required for higher bands. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors, as the overall arrangement is coherent despite some occasional clunkiness in cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully conveying ideas about competition, cooperation, and personal success. Words and phrases like 'urgency to improve', 'anxious', 'successful', and 'environment' are used appropriately. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'substantial' or specific descriptors, but word choice occasionally slips into informal or slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'builiding' (a spelling error) and 'plenty of every ingredient with myself'. Spelling and word-choice errors do not impede communication. The vocabulary range and control fit comfortably within the Band 6 descriptors, showing sufficient flexibility for the requirements of the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination and relative clauses, such as 'Some people have this opinion, that one should have competition... while others think contrary to it as they support the idea of cooperation.' There are noticeable errors in grammar, punctuation, and article usage throughout the text, including lowercase 'i', missing articles ('for medical exam'), and awkward relative clauses ('A person who thinks that cooperation is not necessary for growth, he is totally wrong'). However, these errors rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear. This balance of mixed structures and manageable errors corresponds directly to the Band 6 descriptors.

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

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