Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28

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 6.5)

A number of people say that competition at work, at school, and in daily life is a positive thing. Others opine that we should try to cooperate more, instead of competing against each other. I think, based on the situation, we should carefully decide whether to compete or cooperate.

On the one hand, when competition produces positive results, it is worth engaging in. Firstly, in the workplace, both employers and employees can benefit from competition. For example, in a retail shop that pays commissions based on sales, healthy competition among staff can be very effective. All staff would try to make as many sales as possible in order to make as much money as possible. Indeed, it is positive for them as well as their bosses. Second, at school, young learners should try to perform the best in the class. When the majority of learners do that, the class progresses well, thus benefiting them and their school. Third, family members can start positive competition with each other. For instance, if one sibling got a chance in a good medical college, then the younger sibling should also try to do academically well by getting admitted to a better subject. As a result, nobody loses and everyone would simply be a better version of themselves.

On the other hand, in some circumstances, cooperation leads to better outcomes. To begin with, a group project cannot be successfully completed if the group members do not help each other. They should correct each other's mistakes instead of pointing out faults. In addition, if children take part in a team sport against another school, they should obviously work together within their team. Otherwise, they will not be able to win or perform well. Likewise, when a family program, such as a marriage ceremony, is arranged, the members should work as a team to make it a success. Therefore, in many cases, cooperation is required.

In conclusion, I think competition and cooperation are both part of our daily lives. We compete when it benefits us, and we work together when cooperation is needed for success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the view that competition is beneficial and the view that cooperation is preferable, while also providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as retail commissions for workplace competition and group projects for cooperation. However, some arguments remain slightly under-developed, falling short of the depth required for a Band 8. For instance, the school and family examples under competition are somewhat brief and could be extended further. Nevertheless, the response clearly fulfills the requirements of a Band 7 by addressing all parts of the task with a clear position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. It is well-paragraphed, with distinct sections for the introduction, the two body paragraphs exploring competing viewpoints, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately and appropriately, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'To begin with', guiding the reader smoothly through the arguments. Referencing is generally clear, and although certain transitions are slightly formulaic, the overall structure exhibits the clear logical progression characteristic of Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'commissions', 'healthy competition', 'under-developed', and 'circumstances' are used effectively to discuss the topic. There are some attempts to use less common items, though occasional inaccuracies or slight awkwardness in phrasing occur, such as 'try to perform the best' instead of 'perform at their best' and 'getting admitted to a better subject'. Despite these minor lexical lapses, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with clarity, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over sentence structures. Examples of complex sentences include 'When the majority of learners do that, the class progresses well, thus benefiting them and their school.' There are some minor grammatical errors and slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'one sibling got a chance' instead of 'gained admission', and 'nobody loses and everyone would simply be a better version'. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and do not impede communication, allowing the text to comfortably sit within the Band 7 range for grammatical accuracy and range.

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