Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-24

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)

In the modern professional landscape, both competition and cooperation play significant roles, and opinions differ on which approach yields better outcomes. While some argue that competition motivates individuals to perform at their best, others contend that teamwork produces superior results with less strain on resources. This essay will examine both perspectives before explaining why I lean towards cooperation as the more valuable approach for individuals and society alike.

Advocates of competition argue that it ignites a drive to outperform others, pushing people towards continuous improvement. In academic settings, for instance, students are often spurred on by a healthy rivalry to outscore their peers, a pattern that carries into professional life, where employees compete for promotions and recognition. This dynamic is particularly visible in the technology sector: smartphone manufacturers race to out-innovate their rivals, and this rivalry ultimately benefits consumers, who gain access to advances such as GPS navigation and AI-driven features sooner than they otherwise might.

Proponents of cooperation, however, contend that collective effort often achieves more than individual rivalry, since complex tasks rarely have a single owner. Most companies now organize work around teams rather than lone employees, recognizing that shared expertise accelerates problem-solving. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates this vividly: when the world faced an unprecedented public health crisis, scientists across nations pooled their research and collaborated at remarkable speed, developing effective vaccines within a single year — an outcome individual competition alone could scarcely have achieved.

In conclusion, while competition undeniably has its merits in driving individual performance, I believe cooperation is ultimately more valuable. By combining knowledge, resources and diverse perspectives, people are better equipped to solve the complex problems that define our era.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the views that competition is beneficial and that cooperation is superior, while also clearly stating the writer's own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as reference to the technology sector for competition and the COVID-19 pandemic for cooperation. The position is well-maintained throughout the essay, meeting the criteria for a Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced with a clear overall progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph having a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are managed well without being overly mechanical or intrusive (e.g., 'While some argue', 'Proponents of cooperation, however', 'In conclusion'). Referencing is clear and effective throughout the text, matching Band 8 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible vocabulary range suitable for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skillfully and naturally, such as 'professional landscape', 'out-innovate', 'unprecedented public health crisis', and 'collective effort'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, showing strong control over word choice and collocation, which aligns well with a Band 8.0 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex constructions—such as participial phrases ('recognizing that shared expertise accelerates problem-solving') and conditional clauses—are handled with great control. Minor mechanical slips are extremely rare, making this a strong performance that fully justifies a Band 8.0.

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