Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-09

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 7.0)

In modern world, people are constantly interacting with each other through various social dynamics like at workplace, in school and in fact, in their everyday routines in life. While some people argue that a competitive environment is beneficial for personal growth and societal innovation, others argue that mutual cooperation is essential for a healthy bond and that yields a much positive outcome. I believe that the best approach is to implement both options in tandem.

On one hand, competition provides people a clear target which motivates them to outperform the best and be better themselves. They work hard to come up with the best idea possible to win the race for themselves and for the betterment of the society as well. For instance, rival companies compete to serve what's best for their customers by reducing cost and enhancing the quality of their products. Challenges also boost creativity in people and further develops problem-solving skills. Moreover, the peer pressure environment prepares people for real life struggles like exams, job interviews and promotions by teaching how to push through hard times and recover from losses.

At the same time, cooperating with others strengthen the bond between them. It builds trust, empathy and mutual respect among the peers. Some problems that cannot be solved by one person, can be tackled effectively through teamwork. Furthermore, collective effort reduces the burden when shared with others, thus maintaining a stress-free environment. It prevents toxic, back-stabbing culture and promotes a healthy work or study environment.

To conclude, both competition and cooperation work best hand in hand. With no competition at all, incompetency takes place as there is no driving force to push oneself forward. On the other hand, lack of cooperation with excessive competing mentality creates a toxic environment that takes a heavy toll on people's mind.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both sides of the question and maintains a clear position: competition and cooperation are most effective when used together. The competition paragraph gives relevant support through business rivalry, creativity, and preparation for exams and work, while the cooperation paragraph explains trust, teamwork, and reduced stress. This meets the task well, with ideas extended and supported. To strengthen the discussion further, develop the comparison between the two approaches more explicitly and make the examples more specific—for instance, explain how a particular team or workplace can balance shared goals with individual incentives. The conclusion restates the position clearly, although its claims about incompetence and toxic environments could be qualified rather than presented as inevitable outcomes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear four-part structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Its progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On one hand,” “At the same time,” and “To conclude” help readers track the argument. Ideas within paragraphs are generally ordered logically, moving from a main claim to supporting consequences or examples. Some linking is a little formulaic, and the relationship between points could be made more precise; for example, the cooperation paragraph lists several benefits without showing how they build on one another. Use a wider range of referencing and transitions, and connect each example directly to the paragraph’s central claim to make cohesion more flexible and less list-like.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “societal innovation,” “mutual cooperation,” “problem-solving skills,” “collective effort,” and “toxic environment.” These choices communicate the argument clearly, and some less common expressions show an attempt at an appropriately formal style. However, several collocations or word forms are not natural, such as “a much positive outcome,” “outperform the best,” and “incompetency takes place.” “Peer pressure environment” is also an imprecise way to describe preparation for adult challenges. Aim for more accurate, idiomatic combinations and check whether a phrase expresses the intended meaning. This would make the vocabulary more precise and flexible while preserving the clear overall message.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

There is a useful mix of simple and complex structures, including contrast clauses (“While some people argue…”) and conditional phrasing (“With no competition at all…”). Most sentences remain understandable, and the argument is not disrupted by grammatical errors. Some agreement and article errors persist: “cooperating with others strengthen” should be “strengthens,” and “a much positive outcome” needs a different grammatical construction. The opening also has an awkwardly constructed list after “interacting with each other,” while the comma in “Some problems that cannot be solved by one person, can be tackled” is unnecessary. Review subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation around clauses, then proofread longer sentences to improve accuracy and control.

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