Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-03
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 4.5)
It is considered by some individuals 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 .
When others believe that we should try to cooperate more because some people can not compare themselves in life with others specially because of their financial problem . Some people work hard to compete with others some people first think about money to spend on things , or education to do the competition with others in life . I think the competition with others in school is important for students for the bright future and they need to compete with other students so that they can achieve goals in life to become a successful person . For example if students are doing any school project given by the teacher each student need to think about different and latest ideas to present that project in the school or class infront of other students .
On the other hand, the competition in work is also important for some reason like if employee who works in any company needs promotion they have to compete with other employers at work to get that promotion before others .
From my point of view , In daily life people do not need to compete with others in basic needs like food , clothes or other things because some poor people can not wear or buy things like the wealthy people can buy . I think people need to spend money according to their financial situation.
To conclude , although there are plethora of reasons of some people think that competition at work , at school and in daily life is a good thing such as do competition by thinking about financially situation , in school and at work competition is important for better future .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response addresses the task only partially. Note that 55 words copied directly from the task prompt were not counted towards the total length. The position is not always clear, and the ideas are limited and under-developed. While both views regarding competition and cooperation are touched upon, the discussion lacks depth and clear examples. For instance, the argument about school projects mentions thinking about 'latest ideas', but this is not fully expanded to address the broader philosophical prompt. Similarly, the discussion on financial situations and basic needs in daily life is disjointed and fails to properly evaluate the merits of competition versus cooperation. To move to a higher level, the writer needs to present a well-developed position throughout, extending and supporting all parts of the task with clear reasoning and relevant, detailed examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
There is some basic organisation in the response, but it lacks a clear overall progression. The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences and paragraphs is frequently disrupted. Cohesive devices are used inadequately or inaccurately, such as the repetitive use of 'some people' and somewhat mechanical transitional phrases like 'On the other hand' and 'To conclude'. Referencing is also not always clear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of arguments from one point to the next. To achieve a higher band, the writer must ensure that ideas are logically sequenced with smooth transitions, and that cohesive devices are used more flexibly and accurately to guide the reader through the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task. The writer relies on basic, repetitive terms such as 'competition', 'cooperate', 'people', and 'school', and attempts at less common vocabulary sometimes result in awkward phrasing or imprecise word choices, such as 'do the competition' instead of 'compete'. There are also noticeable vocabulary and word-formation errors that may cause some difficulty for the reader, though communication is generally maintained. To improve lexical resource, the writer should incorporate a wider and more precise range of vocabulary, including less common lexical items and appropriate collocations related to the topic of work, education, and social dynamics.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent attempts at complex sentences that are often faulty. There are frequent grammatical errors in sentence structure, article usage, prepositions, and punctuation, such as missing articles ('with other students', 'at work'), awkward relative clauses, and incorrect punctuation around commas. These frequent errors can cause difficulty for the reader and obscure the intended meaning. To reach the next band, the writer needs to produce a greater variety of complex structures with better control, aiming for a higher proportion of error-free sentences and improved punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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