Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 7.0)

International sporting events such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup are often considered a way of bringing countries closer together. While some people believe that these events promote friendship and understanding, others argue that they increase competition between nations. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe such events generally have a positive effect.

On the one hand, international sports competitions can create strong connections between people from different countries. Athletes have the opportunity to meet individuals from different cultures, while spectators also share the experience of supporting their teams. This can help people understand and respect other cultures and traditions. For example, during the Olympics, athletes from many nations live together in the same environment and often develop friendships despite representing different countries. In addition, hosting such events can encourage cultural exchange and international cooperation.

On the other hand, international competitions naturally involve rivalry, which can sometimes create tension between countries. Supporters may become extremely passionate about their national teams and react negatively when their country loses. In some cases, sporting rivalries can even lead to arguments between fans. Furthermore, the desire to win medals or tournaments may encourage countries to focus more on defeating their opponents than on developing friendly relationships.

In my opinion, although international sports events can create temporary competition, their overall impact is more likely to be positive. Competition is an essential part of sport, but these events also provide an opportunity for millions of people to interact and celebrate together. Therefore, the Olympics and the World Cup can promote international friendship and understanding more than they create conflict.

Overall, international sporting events involve competition, but they can also unite people through their shared interest in sport and encourage greater respect between nations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the potential for international unity and the risk of heightened competition—and provided a clear, consistent personal opinion throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between temporary sporting rivalry and long-term cultural exchange. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, real-world examples beyond general references to the Olympics or the World Cup, such as mentioning specific historical instances where sports diplomacy has eased political tensions or, conversely, where it has exacerbated them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints and your own opinion is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition,' and 'Furthermore,' which guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The structure is balanced and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'cultural exchange,' 'international cooperation,' and 'sporting rivalries' are used accurately and appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to express your ideas with greater nuance. For example, instead of 'good way,' you might use 'conducive to' or 'instrumental in.' Overall, the language is natural and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of concessive clauses ('While some people believe that...') and conditional-like reasoning ('If...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with no noticeable errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, or punctuation. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a strong command of English grammar. To push into the highest band, you could experiment with a wider variety of advanced structures, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, though your current control is already very solid.

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