Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-10

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)

In the contemporary world, it is widely believed by some people that sports events like the Olympics or the World Cup are the best ways to unite nations, while others argue that these develop competition rather than building relationships between countries. From my perspective, these occasions may bring people from those regions together and assist them in improving their relations economically.

Analyzing the statement and explaining further, whenever these events are conducted, each country will get an opportunity to host them. In this way, when the respective team members and their fans travel to that country to support them, they will eventually explore that place and build relationships with the citizens of that country. Moreover, many members will get a chance to know the cultures of that region that will facilitate them to get closer to each other. Similarly, when the citizens pay attention to build their relationships, the administrations of those nations will also look to build the bond between them in terms of trade, technology and economic support. Although they might be enemies, they will try to work on things that will have a favourable outcome on their economies. Therefore, their bond gradually increases, which will benefit both the citizens and the countries.

Probing ahead, such competition is also a crucial factor to consider when performing in those events. This is because everyone wants to perform well and lift the cup, which will put them in a difficult situation, as their main motive sometimes will be just to win the match. Additionally, there may also be a lot of rivalries between them, which, at a certain point, will not assist them in having good relations. Nevertheless, some countries keep these things aside and save their relationship by not including the event's results in their bucket list. In terms of fans, they might not be interested in choosing relationships when it comes to winning the World Cup for their respective nations. Hence, it creates a lot of competition, and they will work hard rather than strengthening their bonds.

To recapitulate, from the information aforementioned, we can clearly state that occasions such as the Olympics and the football World Cup will not only bring people closer but also help the regions to enhance their overall economic activities and make their economy stronger. Ultimately, everyone involved in these are winners, because it will be advantageous for them throughout the league.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the economic benefits of hosting and the potential for increased rivalry. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive and occasionally lacks depth. For instance, the discussion on how sports events lead to economic cooperation is a bit vague and could have been supported with a more concrete example. The conclusion is a bit simplistic, restating the benefits without fully synthesising the two viewpoints discussed. Overall, the task is addressed, but the depth of analysis is more consistent with a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover', 'Similarly', and 'Nevertheless', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, although the phrase 'from the information aforementioned' in the conclusion is a bit formal and slightly awkward in this context. The structure is sound, and the flow of the argument is maintained throughout the response, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of ideas. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'contemporary', 'facilitate', and 'favourable outcome'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural collocations or word choices, such as 'bucket list' (which is used incorrectly here to mean a list of priorities or considerations) and 'lift the cup' (which is informal). While the range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and errors are infrequent enough that they do not impede communication. However, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'pay attention to build their relationships' (should be 'pay attention to building') and 'everyone involved in these are winners' (should be 'is a winner'). The range of complex structures is present but could be more varied to demonstrate greater flexibility. The punctuation is generally accurate, contributing to the overall readability of the text.

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