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)

People have different opinions about whether competition or cooperation is more beneficial in our lives. While some believe that competition encourages individuals to achieve their goals, others argue that working together creates better outcomes. In my opinion, both are important, but cooperation should be given greater importance.

On the one hand, competition can motivate people to work harder and improve their abilities. When individuals compete with others, they often become more determined to achieve their goals and perform better. For example, students may study harder to achieve higher grades, while employees may improve their performance to gain promotions. Therefore, healthy competition can help individuals develop confidence and reach their full potential.

On the other hand, cooperation is equally valuable because it promotes teamwork, understanding and mutual support. When people share their knowledge and skills, they can solve problems more effectively than working alone. In schools, group projects allow students to learn from one another and develop communication skills. Likewise, employees who cooperate with their colleagues can complete tasks more efficiently and create a positive working environment. Excessive competition, however, may lead to stress, jealousy and unnecessary conflicts. For this reason, cooperation is particularly important for maintaining healthy relationships.

In conclusion, although competition can encourage individuals to improve their performance, I believe cooperation is more beneficial in the long term because it builds stronger relationships and helps people achieve shared goals. A balance between the two is essential for success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the views on competition and cooperation and presenting a clear personal position throughout. The introduction outlines both perspectives, and body paragraphs present relevant arguments for each side, such as motivation and performance for competition, and teamwork and relationship-building for cooperation. Ideas are extended with examples like students studying for grades and group projects. However, the response has a minor negative impact on Task Achievement due to the length requirement not being met, as the text contains 239 words, which falls short of the 250-word minimum specified in the instructions. This slight under-length prevents the development from being fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introductory overview to body paragraphs examining competition and cooperation, and finally to a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively. Referencing is clear, and the logical flow between sentences and ideas is maintained successfully, demonstrating good organizational control despite the slightly short length of the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the task. Words and phrases such as 'achieve their goals', 'mutual support', 'efficiently', and 'positive working environment' show good control of common and less common lexical items. There are also successful attempts at collocation, such as 'healthy competition' and 'excessive competition'. Word choices are generally natural, and spelling and word formation are accurate throughout. While it does not consistently display the highly sophisticated range required for higher bands, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the intended meaning without any impediment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and complex noun phrases, such as 'While some believe that competition encourages individuals to achieve their goals...' and 'When individuals compete with others, they often become more determined...'. Punctuation is accurate, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The rare errors that might occur are non-systematic and do not impede communication in any way, indicating solid command over grammar suitable for a band 7 level.

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