Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Some people believe that international sporting events, such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup, are an effective way to bring countries together. Others argue that these events create competition rather than friendship. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

On the one hand, international sports events can bring people from different countries closer together. During these events, athletes and supporters from many nations meet and share the same experience. They can learn about different cultures, traditions and lifestyles. For example, the Olympic Games bring thousands of athletes together, allowing them to communicate and develop friendships despite coming from different backgrounds. In addition, international competitions can encourage people to respect other countries and their cultures.

On the other hand, sports competitions can sometimes increase rivalry between countries. Supporters usually strongly support their own national teams and want them to win. This can sometimes lead to arguments between fans, especially during important football matches. Furthermore, when a country loses an important competition, some supporters may blame the opposing team or behave aggressively. Therefore, competition can occasionally create tension rather than friendship.

In my opinion, although international sports events naturally involve competition, they generally provide an opportunity for countries and people to interact peacefully. The competition is usually limited to the sports field, while the wider event encourages cultural exchange and communication. For instance, players from different countries can compete strongly during a match but still respect each other after the game.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Although the prompt asks for an essay on a typical Academic/General Task 2 prompt rather than a General Training Task 1 letter, your response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on international sporting events and presenting a clear personal opinion. Your position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-extended, such as noting how the Olympics enable athletes from diverse backgrounds to communicate and develop friendships, and acknowledging the counterpoint regarding fan rivalry and aggression. The examples provided, including the mention of important football matches, effectively support your main arguments. Overall, the content is well-developed, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt's requirements, which aligns strongly with Band 7.0 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Your essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You begin with a proper introduction that outlines both views and your thesis statement, followed by distinct body paragraphs for each side of the argument, and conclude with a well-reasoned personal opinion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through your arguments, as seen with transition phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'For instance'. Paragraphing is used logically to separate different aspects of the discussion. While the cohesive mechanisms are sometimes straightforward, they are managed effectively without mechanical errors, fully satisfying the requirements of Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision. You successfully use less common items with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'international sporting events', 'cultural exchange', 'aggressive', and 'interact peacefully'. Word choices are generally appropriate and communication is never impeded. There are occasional slight inaccuracies or limitations in style, but you manage to express your ideas clearly and naturally using appropriate collocation like 'support their own national teams'. This performance fits comfortably into Band 7.0 for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You produce a variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, showing good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of successful complex structures include 'Although international sports events naturally involve competition, they generally provide an opportunity...' and '...allowing them to communicate and develop friendships despite coming from different backgrounds.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and the few minor errors present do not impede communication at all. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the text. This strong control of grammar and range of sentence forms warrants a Band 7.0 score.

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