Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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 7.5)

International sporting events such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup attract people from all over the world. Some people believe that these events bring countries together, while others argue that they create competition and rivalry. In my opinion, international sports have more positive effects because they encourage friendship and cultural understanding.

On the one hand, international sports can create strong competition between countries. Athletes and supporters usually want their national team to win, and this can sometimes lead to tension between fans. For example, during important football matches, supporters of rival countries may argue or insult each other because they are emotionally involved in the game. In addition, excessive nationalism can make people focus more on defeating other nations than on enjoying the sport. As a result, some international competitions may increase rivalry rather than friendship.

On the other hand, these events can unite people from different cultures. Athletes from many countries live and train together, giving them an opportunity to communicate and build friendships. Similarly, international fans travel to host countries, where they meet people with different backgrounds and traditions. For instance, during the Olympics, competitors from countries with different cultures and political views often show respect for one another and celebrate their achievements together. This can help people understand that they share many common interests despite their national differences.

In conclusion, international sports events can sometimes create rivalry because of strong competition. However, I believe their ability to promote cultural exchange, friendship, and mutual respect is more significant. Therefore, events such as the Olympics and the World Cup are an effective way to bring countries closer together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. 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, such as the mention of athletes training together and the emotional involvement of fans. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, concrete examples of international events beyond general references to the Olympics or World Cup to further strengthen your arguments. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the task requirements.

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 handled smoothly using cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and restates your position. The use of referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow is natural, and the reader is guided through your argument without any confusion. The cohesive devices are used effectively and do not feel mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the topic. Phrases like 'excessive nationalism', 'cultural understanding', and 'mutual respect' are used accurately. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision. While the range is adequate, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common academic vocabulary would elevate the response further. For instance, instead of 'good way', you could use 'conducive mechanism'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and the word choices are consistently natural and appropriate for the context of an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions effectively, such as 'because they are emotionally involved' and 'although they share many common interests'. The grammar is generally accurate, and there are very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of your sentences. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more advanced conditional sentences, to demonstrate greater flexibility. However, the current control is strong and communication is never impeded.

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