Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

It is often argued that competitiveness in academic and professional setting is a positive aspect, whereas others maintain that cooperating jointly is paramount. While I recognise the merits of working together, I believe it develops a healthy environment everywhere.

Subset of people argue for competition because it primarily enhances in boosting motivation. When there is a sense of rivarly in education or work place, often, these individuals compete with each other trying to improve themselves. Such ambition leads to enhanced productiveness with better output at what they are doing. For instance, when employees compete with one another they try to bring in better results which is highly beneficial for firms, in contrast, when different students are in a contest amongst each other they tend to study more leading to improved grades.

However,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response begins to address the two views: it explains that competition may motivate employees and students, and gives relevant examples of workplace results and grades. However, it does not discuss the benefits of cooperation, despite introducing that view in the opening, and the opinion is unclear: “I believe it develops a healthy environment everywhere” does not specify whether “it” means cooperation or competition. The essay also stops at “However,” without completing the discussion or giving a conclusion. The required minimum of 250 words is not met, so the task is only minimally addressed. To improve, develop both sides, state your position explicitly, and support it with a complete conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening introduces the contrast, followed by a paragraph explaining competition, and “However” signals that another viewpoint is intended. The example about employees and students also follows the point about motivation. Nevertheless, the overall progression is incomplete because the response ends immediately after “However,” leaving the cooperation discussion and conclusion absent. Some linking is awkward or unclear, such as “in contrast” joining two examples that actually support the same argument. The opening’s “it” also has an uncertain reference. Complete each paragraph around one clear idea, use transitions that show the precise relationship between points, and finish with a summary of your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response shows some range beyond basic vocabulary, including “competitiveness,” “paramount,” “motivation,” “ambition,” and “beneficial.” These choices help communicate the argument about competition, and the examples use relevant academic and workplace language. However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, including “cooperating jointly,” “enhances in boosting motivation,” and “improved productiveness.” There is also a spelling error in “rivarly,” while “Subset of people” is an unsuitable way to introduce a group holding a view. These issues make the wording less precise and fluent, although the main meaning is generally understandable. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling; for example, use “fosters motivation” and “a group of people argue.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a complex opening with “whereas” and a conditional-style example beginning “When there is a sense…”. The main ideas are usually understandable, and some clauses are formed successfully. However, grammatical control is uneven. In “in academic and professional setting,” the singular count noun needs an article or plural form; “it develops a healthy environment” has an unclear pronoun reference; and “When employees compete… which is highly beneficial” creates a long sentence with a comma splice before “in contrast.” The fragment “However,” also leaves the final sentence incomplete. Practise accurate articles and sentence boundaries, and divide long examples into complete sentences while retaining a range of structures.

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