Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that international sports events, such as The Olympics or the Football World Cup, are a good way to bring countries together. Others say that these events create competition, not friendship, between countries.

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 8.0)

International sporting events such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup attract athletes and spectators from countries across the globe. While some people argue that these events promote friendship and encourage relationships between nations, others believe that the excessive competition they create can increase rivalry. Although international sports can sometimes generate nationalistic tensions, I believe their overall impact is positive because they encourage cultural exchange and bring people together through a shared interest.

On the one hand, international sporting competitions can undoubtedly create competition and rivalry between countries. Athletes and teams represent their nations, which means that victories and defeats are often interpreted as matters of national pride. As a result, these matches can provoke hostility among supporters, particularly when rival teams have a history of political and sporting tensions. In some cases, excessive nationalism can lead to confrontations and conflicts between fans. Moreover, considerable pressure placed on athletes to win may create intense competitive behavior, which can result in negative attitudes towards opposing countries.

On the other hand, international sports events can play a vital role in bringing people and countries closer together. The Olympics provide an opportunity for athletes from different cultural, religious and social backgrounds to live and compete alongside each another. Such interactions can help participants develop mutual respect and a deeper understanding of different cultures. Moreover, millions of spectators watch these events together regardless of their nationality, which can create a sense of unity and common interest. Therefore, sporting events can provide peaceful platforms through a shared excitement.

In conclusion, international sports events can sometimes intensify competitions and nationalism, particularly when supporters become excessively concerned with winning. Nevertheless, I believe that their overall impact is positive because they encourage cultural exchange, mutual understanding and friendship between people from different counties.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the potential for rivalry and the potential for unity—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning, such as the mention of national pride leading to hostility and the role of the Olympics in fostering cross-cultural interaction. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the arguments are logically extended. To reach a higher band, you could provide a specific, concrete example of a sporting event that either caused conflict or fostered unity to further strengthen your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is clear, and the use of linking words like 'Moreover', 'Therefore', and 'Nevertheless' helps guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The structure is well-managed, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the entire piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'nationalistic tensions', 'mutual respect', and 'excessive nationalism' show an awareness of style and collocation. There is a good attempt to use less common lexical items, and the vocabulary is used accurately to convey your meaning. While the range is good, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions could elevate the response further. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the language used is appropriate for an academic task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of 'While' and 'Although' clauses to introduce contrasting ideas. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There is a minor slip in the phrase 'compete alongside each another', where 'each other' would be the correct form. However, this is a rare error and does not detract from the overall high quality of your writing. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, which contributes to a fluent and readable style.

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