Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

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)

Whether competition or cooperation is more desirable is a subject of considerable debate. While competition can be a powerful driver of progress, I believe that cooperation is ultimately more beneficial for individuals and society.

On the one hand, competition is often seen as essential for excellence. In schools, students who compete for top grades are likely to study harder and develop a strong work ethic that prepares them for the real world. Similarly, in the workplace, competition for promotions or bonuses can motivate employees to be more productive and innovative. For example, in a sales environment, ranking employees by performance often leads to higher overall sales. In daily life, competition in sports or business encourages people to push their limits and achieve what they otherwise might not. From this perspective, competition fosters personal growth and economic development.

On the other hand, an excessive emphasis on competition can have damaging consequences. It can create stress, anxiety, and a sense of failure among those who do not succeed, particularly in children. Moreover, it can undermine relationships and promote selfish behaviour, as people prioritize individual success over collective well-being. Cooperation, in contrast, builds stronger communities and more effective teams. In schools, collaborative projects teach students to listen, share ideas, and solve problems together – skills that are far more valuable in modern workplaces than the ability to work in isolation. At work, when colleagues cooperate and share knowledge, the entire organisation benefits from greater efficiency and creativity. A clear example is the field of science, where major breakthroughs, such as the development of vaccines, are almost always the result of cooperative effort rather than individual rivalry.

In my opinion, while a degree of healthy competition is useful to motivate people, cooperation should be encouraged more. The challenges facing the world today, from climate change to public health crises, are too complex to be solved by individuals competing against each other. They require people to work together. Therefore, schools and workplaces should focus on fostering a cooperative spirit while still recognising individual achievement.

In conclusion, both competition and cooperation have their merits, but I believe that in the long term, a cooperative approach leads to greater personal well-being and more sustainable societal progress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of competition and cooperation while providing a clear, well-reasoned personal position throughout the essay. The introduction sets up the discussion effectively, and the body paragraphs explore both sides with relevant examples, such as educational motivations, workplace productivity, and scientific breakthroughs like vaccine development. The ideas are thoroughly extended and supported, demonstrating a deep understanding of the topic without wandering off-topic. According to the Band 8 descriptors, the response covers all parts well with well-developed and supported ideas, making this a solid performance for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression from the introduction through the balanced body paragraphs to the final conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, and paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In contrast', and 'Therefore' are used flexibly and effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Pronoun referencing and substitution are well managed throughout the text, ensuring that transitions between sentences remain smooth and natural. This corresponds strongly to the Band 8 descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic discussion. Less common vocabulary items and phrases such as 'considerable debate', 'powerful driver of progress', 'collective well-being', and 'sustainable societal progress' are used skilfully with a strong awareness of collocation and style. Word choice is generally precise, and there are only occasional minor inaccuracies. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the text. The vocabulary employed easily satisfies the criteria for a Band 7.5 to 8.0 range, showing precise control over topic-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses, relative clauses, and participial phrases, used with a high degree of flexibility and control. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Grammatical control is consistently strong, with accurate tense usage and subject-verb agreement across all paragraphs. While there are a few minor slips or minor structural repetitions, these do not impede communication in any way and reflect the typical output of a Band 8 writer who maintains a high level of grammatical accuracy alongside complex syntax.

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