Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-27

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)

IN RECENT YEARS, A FEW SECTION OF SOCIETY BELIEVE THAT COMMPETION AT OFFICES, AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND IN REGULAR LIFE IS A BETTER THING.WHILE, THE PROPONENTS OF THIS ASSERTION EMPHAISED THAT INDIVIDULAS TRY TO COOPERATE MORE, RATHER THAN DOING COMPETITON WITH EACH OTHER.ALTHOUGH BOTH ARGUMENTS ARE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER WILL BRING MORE KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION IN A INDIVIDUAL, GIVEN ITS GREATER POTNETIAL TO EXPAND CAPACITY AND ABILITIES.

ADVOCATES OF COMPETITON IS A GOOD THING MAINTAIN THAT IS APPROACH CAN YIELD FAR-REACHING BENEFITS, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY. THE UNDERLYING RATIONALE IS THAT COMPETITION BRINGS A HOPE TO ACHEIVE AND WIN SOMETHING.THIS IS CLEARLY EXPLAINED BY AN EXAMPLE, A STUDENT PREFER TO DO COMPETITON WITH OTHER LEARNER AND THIS REALLY HELPS THEM IN BETTER ACADMEIC PERFORMANCE. OTHER REASON IS THAT, BY DOING COMPETITON ONE CAN INCREASED THEIR WILL POWER OR CAPACITY BY DOING HARDWORK TO WIN THAT.THUS, IT IS A BETTER THING IF WE USE IT IN A APPROPRIATE WAY AS IT HAS BOTH MERITS AND DEMERITS.

CONVERSELY, THOSE WHO SUPPORT WE SHOULD TRY TO COOPERATE MORE, RATHER THAN COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER MAINLY ARGUE THAT COOPERATON WITH COLLEGUES MAINTAINS A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT COMPETITION CAN GIVE BIRTH TO THE JEALOUSLY FACTOR WHICH AFFCET THIER FRIENDSHIP. BY COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER IT FOSTER THE AGRESSION, HATE BETWEEN THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, MANY SINGERS ARE COMPETING WITH OTHER MUSIC ARTISTS AND EVEN THEY INTRODUCED DISS TRACK SONGS ON THEM TO POTRAY THEIR PERSONALITY DOWN FROM THEM.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both perspectives and state a clear preference for competition, linking it to greater knowledge, motivation and personal ability. The student example gives some relevant support, while the discussion of cooperation identifies jealousy and hostility as possible consequences of competition. However, the position is not fully sustained: the first paragraph briefly says both arguments deserve consideration, and the second paragraph concludes that competition has both merits and demerits without clarifying your overall judgement. Several points are asserted rather than explained, and the cooperation argument would benefit from a concrete example of how working together helps people achieve a shared goal. Develop each main idea and connect it more explicitly to your opinion. The response meets the stated length requirement; 12 words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting competition and a paragraph presenting concerns about it. Linking expressions such as “Conversely,” “This is largely due to the fact that” and “For example” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is limited because the essay ends after the opposing-view paragraph, without a concluding paragraph that brings the discussion together or confirms your position. Some connections are also unclear or mechanical: “Other reason is that” does not smoothly introduce the next point, and the example about diss tracks is not clearly tied to the broader claim about cooperation. Use clearer topic sentences, develop each paragraph around one main point, and add a conclusion that resolves the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “underlying rationale,” “far-reaching benefits,” “capacity” and “foster,” and you use terms connected with both competition and cooperation. This shows an effort to go beyond very basic wording. However, spelling errors and inaccurate or unnatural combinations are frequent enough to distract the reader, as in “commpetition,” “acheive,” “jealously factor” and “potray their personality down.” Some words are also repeated, particularly “competition,” “better thing” and “capacity,” limiting flexibility. Choose more precise collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, describe competition as “motivating” or “a source of pressure,” depending on your meaning. More accurate word choice would make your ideas easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including “Although both arguments are worthy of consideration” and the clause beginning “Those who support…” This shows an effort to vary sentence structure. However, many sentences contain errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence boundaries, and these sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “Advocates … is” should use a plural verb, while “a student prefer” needs a singular verb form. “By competing with each other it foster” also lacks agreement, and several full stops are missing or misplaced, creating run-on sentences or fragments. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then add subordinate clauses. Check subject–verb agreement, articles and punctuation during revision.

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