Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent years, international sports events like as Cricket World Cup, Football World Cup or The Olympics takes place in many countries. According to some people these sports events helps the countries to come together and perform together, whereas, others feel that these games generate feeling of competition, jealousy among countries. Although there are valid arguments on the both side, but I firmly believe that the advantages of sports events outweigh the disadvantages.

The primary argument in favour of this international sports events is that it attracts people from different countries, which directly helps to strengthen relationships between nations and provide an excellent opportunity for people to interact and develop mutual understanding. Furthermore, spectators from around the world often travel to host country, creating opportunities for cultural exchange. The Olympic Games, for instance, bring together athletes from almost every part of the world, regardless of political or cultural differences. This can promote unity and demonstrate that people can cooperate despite their differences.

On the other hand, international sporting events can create competition among countries. Since athletes represent their nations, supporters often become highly emotional about the results. This can sometimes lead to intense rivalry, particularly between countries that have a history of sporting completion. Sometimes, excessive nationalism among fans may result in arguments or hostility. Therefore, it is understandable why some people believe that international sports can damage relationships between nations

In conclusion, international sporting events may sometimes enhance competition and national rivalry, however, I believe that they are more likely to bring countries together by encouraging cultural exchange, friendship and mutual respect.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, such as the mention of cultural exchange and the potential for nationalistic rivalry. However, the development of these points is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, the arguments could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis of the underlying causes of these phenomena. The position is consistent throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas is logical, which aligns well with the descriptors for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'mutual understanding', 'cultural exchange', and 'excessive nationalism'. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in collocation or word choice, such as 'like as' instead of 'such as' or 'sporting completion' instead of 'sporting competition'. However, these errors do not impede communication. The range is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, fitting the criteria for a Band 6.5 or 7.0; I have awarded 6.5 due to the repetitive nature of some phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('events... takes place', 'events helps') and minor article usage errors ('travel to host country'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause difficulty for the reader or impede communication. The control of punctuation is generally good, and the meaning is always clear. The range of structures is sufficient, but the frequency of basic errors prevents a higher score.

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

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