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 them closer to each other. In my opinion, while competition is inevitable, these events ultimately serve as a powerful tool for global unity.

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 a wide variety of food, local heritages, 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 can create friction 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 task. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the potential for unity through cultural exchange and the risk of rivalry and conflict—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with logical explanations and examples, such as the mention of athletes interacting during the Olympics and the specific context of football rivalries. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the long-term impact of these events on diplomatic relations, which would add more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is handled effectively using the cohesive device 'However'. You use a range of linking words such as 'To begin with', 'This is because', and 'As a result' to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'contemporary era', 'mutual understanding', and 'intense emotions' are used effectively. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the task, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions, such as 'fostering cross-cultural dialogue' or 'exacerbating nationalistic tensions', to show a greater degree of lexical flexibility and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over grammar, and most of your sentences are error-free. There is a good use of subordinate clauses, such as 'while competition is inevitable' and 'where they experience a wide variety of food'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your meaning is never obscured by grammatical slips. To improve, ensure that you maintain consistency in subject-verb agreement and consider using a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or conditional sentences, to demonstrate higher-level grammatical control.

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