Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12
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)
It is often debated whether hosting international sporting events, such as the Olympics or the Football World Cup, creates tension between nations, while others believe that these events bring countries closer together and build connections among them. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe that such events are generally beneficial.
To begin with, international sporting events can bring people closer together by allowing them to meet people from different nations and learn about other cultures and traditions. In addition, during these events, athletes and spectators are expected to show respect for the national anthems of other countries, which demonstrates a certain level of courtesy among nations. For instance, athletes from different countries live and train in the same environment during the Olympics, allowing them to develop friendships rather than viewing each other simply as competitors.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that international sporting events create competition among nations and can sometimes lead to conflict. Some supporters become extremely excited or emotionally overwhelmed during matches, and they may lose their temper and cause disturbances. This can create negative feelings between supporters of different countries. For example, during major football tournaments, fans can become extremely passionate about their national teams and may develop negative attitudes towards opposing supporters.
In conclusion, although international sporting events can create intense competition and occasional tension, I believe that they are more beneficial because they encourage cultural exchange and bring people from different countries closer together. However, supporters should control their emotions and maintain respect for opposing teams and nations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on international sporting events and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as athletes living together in the Olympic village and fans becoming overly passionate during football matches. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, some of the supporting ideas, such as athletes showing respect for national anthems, could be extended further to achieve a higher level of development. Overall, the task is covered well, meeting the requirements of a Band 7 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with a well-defined introduction, followed by body paragraphs addressing each view, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the text is easy to follow. The logical flow is smooth, which firmly places this performance in the Band 7 category.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision, such as 'international sporting events', 'cultural exchange', 'emotionally overwhelmed', and 'opposing supporters'. There is an attempt to use less common items like 'courtesy' and 'disturbances'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task and communication is fully maintained, there is a reliance on somewhat standard phrasing rather than sophisticated, precise collocations. Spelling and word choice are accurate, justifying a solid Band 6.5 or 7.0 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses like 'although international sporting events can create intense competition and occasional tension, I believe that...' and 'while others believe that these events bring countries closer together'. There is good control of grammar and punctuation, and the majority of sentences are error-free. Complex structures are attempted with good accuracy, and occasional errors do not impede communication. This demonstrates the control characteristic of a Band 7 grammatical range.
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