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 the contemporary era, it is often noticed by individuals that to bring different nations together hosting global sporting tournaments like The Olympics or the Football World Cup is the best way, while others opine that such international events can create disputes between countries rather than bringing close to each other.

To begin with, there are several reasons why organising a sports event can be beneficial. The primary reason is that it provides the opportunity to learn about different cultures. This is because athletes, and spectators meet together in another country, where they experience various varieties of food, cultures, and traditions. This can help to reduce the stereotypes about each other and create a mutual understanding. For example, during the Olympics, people from dozens of countries live and interact in the same environment. This gives them an opportunity to learn about other cultures beyond what they see in the media.

However, international sports events can create rivalry between nations. Athletes compete to win medals or trophies for their countries. National pride can make supporters extremely competitive; therefore, losing can sometimes lead to hostility between rival groups. For instance, football World Cup matches between traditional rivals can create intense emotions among fans, and sometimes this competition can lead to arguments or conflict. As a result, it will create competition between nations instead of friendship.

In conclusion, although international sporting events can create strong competition between countries, I believe they are more beneficial in bringing nations together by encouraging cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You have discussed both perspectives—the unifying potential of sports and the potential for rivalry—and provided a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of cultural exchange and the specific context of the football World Cup. To reach a higher band, ensure that your position is clearly stated in the introduction as well as the conclusion, and aim to develop your arguments with slightly more depth to avoid minor over-generalizations regarding how sports events impact international relations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'As a result' to link your thoughts effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow between the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion is smooth. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices further, as some transitions are quite standard. Ensure that referencing remains precise throughout to maintain the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'contemporary era', 'mutual understanding', and 'hostility between rival groups' demonstrate a good level of control. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'various varieties', which is redundant. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate greater precision. Avoid repetitive phrasing and focus on using vocabulary that is contextually precise to elevate the overall tone of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have demonstrated control over basic grammar, and your meaning is consistently clear. There are occasional errors, such as the phrasing 'bringing close to each other' (which should be 'bringing them closer to each other') and minor punctuation or article usage slips. To achieve a higher band, aim to increase the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensure that your grammatical control is more consistent throughout the text.

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

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