Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-19

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 5.5)

It is widely acknowledged that competition in different aspects of life is healthy. Other proponents assert that cooperation is better than competition. This essay will examine both views before reaching an opinion. Competition may leads to motivation of working better while cooperation may result in better productivity. Both views have their pros and cons.

To commence with first view, competition in daily life is a good thing. When people compete with each other, they not only try to reach their maximum potential but also work hard to out-grow their opponents. In this way, individuals identify their short-comings and strive to overcome them. This motivation creates an environment in which everyone is conscious about their profile. But this view has its own dimerits. Competition sometimes become toxic. Everyone wants to be the best achiever. They work to be one hard but in this scenerio, they don't help each other. They will gate-keep opportunities.

On the other hand, "cooperation is better than competition." view creates a friendly and healthy environment, people may work more comfortably. They can ask for help when needed. This may lead more productive outcomes. A person cannot be perfect at every task. Everyone has his own skill set. When a group of people work together on a target, they may achieve their task more efficiently. In this way, everyone can work on their expertises. They help out each others in their deficiencies.

In my opinion, both arguments are valid to some extent. Although competitive environment may motivate individuals to strive hard but it leads towards toxicity. Comparative workplace leads to more productivity and circulation of knowledge.

In the conclusion, competition and cooperation both are good things with their merits and demerits. However, practising the following leads to growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the question and give a personal view, so the response is relevant throughout. The competition paragraph explains motivation and self-improvement, while the cooperation paragraph describes help-sharing and more efficient group work. However, the discussion remains general and some points are not fully explained: for example, “They will gate-keep opportunities” is introduced without showing how this affects people or outcomes. Your opinion is also not entirely consistent: you say both arguments are valid, then favour a “Comparative workplace,” without clearly explaining how competition and cooperation should be balanced. Develop each main claim with a specific example and state your position more decisively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, an opinion paragraph and a conclusion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” help signal the change in perspective, and the ideas within each main paragraph are generally related. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, relying on phrases such as “In this way” and “This may lead.” Some links between sentences are unclear, particularly “They work to be one hard,” and the conclusion’s “practising the following” refers to no specific practice previously identified. The introduction also previews the discussion but does not establish a clear position. Use more precise referencing and make the conclusion directly summarise your stated view.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “maximum potential,” “toxic,” “productive outcomes” and “skill set,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at less common expressions, but several choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “out-grow their opponents,” “short-comings,” “dimerits,” “scenerio” and “expertises.” Phrases such as “conscious about their profile” and “Comparative workplace” do not express the intended meaning clearly. These errors make some parts harder to follow, even though the overall topic remains understandable. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling and word forms; precise everyday vocabulary is more effective than an ambitious but unsuitable phrase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including contrast clauses with “Although” and conditional phrasing with “When people compete.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors occur often enough to affect clarity. Examples include “Competition may leads” (the modal should be followed by the base verb), “Competition sometimes become” (subject–verb agreement), and “This may lead more productive outcomes” (the sentence needs a suitable preposition or verb construction). The sentence beginning “On the other hand, ‘cooperation is better than competition.’ view” is also structurally incomplete, and several comma splices join independent clauses. Review verb agreement and patterns after modal verbs, and use full stops or conjunctions to control sentence boundaries.

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