Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

People have different perspectives on whether global sports matches foster togetherness or may become a cause of conflict. While this essay will discuss the benefits of both sides, I personally believe it brings more advantages to visitors and host countries.

The main advantage of hosting international events is that it spreads culture. In other words, when people from different nations visit to attend live games, they may not only enjoy the sports programmes but also explore famous local attractions. It benefits both tourists and locals, as visitors can learn about a region's unique culture, lifestyle, and traditions, while locals can showcase their skills and products, which guests buy as souvenirs. For example, during the FIFA World Cup, many visitors from around the globe visit Vancouver, where they enjoy football matches and visit wonderful lakes, beaches, and parks nearby, which enhances their overall experience and may make them want to return for future vacations. Therefore, some countries promote organizing foreign events.

Despite having advantages, it can create conflicts between nations. Since every countries has its own rules and regulations, they may expect similar arrangements from the host country. If they are not satisfied with all the things, it may turn into a debate and become disrespectful, which may have negative impacts on the harmony of relations between the countries. As a result, it can be problematic for imports and exports. For instance, India stopped using Chinese products when they argued about the border. Hence, some individuals consider that these events can spoil long-term relationships due to misunderstandings.

In conclusion, although international events can have certain effects on relationships because of a lack of understanding and patience, I opine that these sports matches can help to gain fame for hosting and provide knowledge to the visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding cultural exchange is well-supported with a relevant example. Conversely, the argument about conflict is less convincing; the link between international sports events and trade disputes (e.g., India and China) is tenuous and not clearly explained in the context of the prompt. While the task is addressed, the connection between the examples and the core topic could be more robust to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'In other words', 'For example', and 'As a result' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the sentence 'If they are not satisfied with all the things', where 'all the things' is vague. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'foster togetherness', 'host countries', and 'harmony of relations'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'promote organizing foreign events' and 'gain fame for hosting'. The range is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Expanding your use of more sophisticated collocations would improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are error-free, there are recurring grammatical slips, such as 'every countries has' (subject-verb agreement) and 'some individuals consider that these events can spoil' (where 'argue' or 'suggest' would be more natural). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles and pluralization.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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