Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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)

Some people believe that competition is essential in work, education and everyday life, while others argue that cooperation is more essential. Although competition can encourage people to improve themselves, I believe that cooperation is more important for achieving long-term success.

On the one hand, competition can motivate individuals to work harder and achieve better results. For example, at school students may study more seriously when they compete for higher grades or academic awards. Similarly, competition between employees can encourage them to develop new skills and improve the ones they have. In business, competition between companies can also lead to better products and services because it attract more customers. Competition can help people reach their potential.

On the other hand, cooperation allows people to combine their knowledge, skills and experience to achieve common goals. In the workplace, employees who cooperate is more responsible and solve complicated problems more effectively. A large project usually requires people from different departments to work together because no single person have all the skills that are required. Cooperation is also important in daily life because societies can deal with problems such as pollution more successfully when people support one another.

In my opinion, both competition and cooperation have their advantages, but cooperation should be given more importance. Competition encourages individuals to set higher goals and improve their performance, while cooperation helps them share ideas and overcome difficulties together. Cooperation also improves trust, communication and mutual support.

In conclusion, competition can encourage people to work harder and achieve their goals, while cooperation allows them to support one another and achieve shared objectives. I believe that a healthy balance between competition and cooperation can lead to better results in both personal and professional life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the views that competition is good and that cooperation should be prioritized, while also presenting a clear personal opinion. The position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported with appropriate examples, such as students competing for grades, employees developing skills, and societies tackling pollution together. While the arguments are clear and logically extended, some points could be slightly deeper to reach the highest bands, placing this comfortably at a Band 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The introduction successfully outlines the debate and the writer's stance. Body paragraphs are well-structured, beginning with clear topic sentences using transitional phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used adequately to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is logical and functional, separating the competing views, the personal opinion, and the conclusion effectively. There are minor referencing issues, but overall cohesion is clear, supporting a Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'long-term success', 'reach their potential', and 'shared objectives' are used naturally. There are occasional attempts at less common lexical items, although some vocabulary remains relatively standard. Word choice and spelling are generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient for precision, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional structures effectively. However, there are a few noticeable grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'employees who cooperate is more responsible' and 'no single person have all the skills'). Despite these errors, the majority of sentences are clear and do not impede communication. The control of grammar and punctuation is generally sound, earning a solid Band 6.5.

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