Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 7.5)

International sporting events such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup are often criticised for creating intense competition rather than strengthening relationships among countries. In my view, although competition is an essential part of these events, they also bring people closer together by encouraging friendship, mutual respect and cultural exchange.

At international sporting events, players and spectators from different countries have opportunities to interact and develop friendships. Although athletes compete against one another, their rivalry often ends with mutual respect and friendly relationships. For instance, players commonly shake hands or congratulate each other after a match, demonstrating that sportsmanship is more important than simply winning or losing. Moreover, athletes can exchange their knowledge, skills, strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to learn from one another and improve in future competitions. Social media also makes it easier for players and fans to remain connected after an event. Therefore, international sports can help break down cultural barriers and create stronger connections between people from different countries.

On the other hand, international sporting events can sometimes create hostility and tension between competing countries. This is mainly because every team or individual participates with the primary goal of winning, and strong rivalry can develop between opposing sides. When one country defeats another, excessive celebrations or negative comments through international media and social media can sometimes create resentment among supporters. For example, matches between India and Pakistan can generate strong emotions, and some supporters may post hateful or offensive comments about the opposing team on social media. In extreme cases, such hostility can affect relationships between people and may contribute to broader tensions between the two countries.

In conclusion, although international sporting events inevitably involve competition and can sometimes create rivalry between countries, they also provide valuable opportunities for friendship, respect and cultural exchange. In my opinion, these events serve a purpose beyond competition because they can bring people from different nations closer together and contribute to stronger international ties.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that international sports events bring countries together and that they create competition and hostility—while clearly stating the writer's own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as athletes shaking hands after matches and the intense rivalry seen in fixtures between India and Pakistan. The position is clear throughout the text, and all arguments are thoroughly extended. The response meets all the requirements for a Band 7.0 or Band 8.0 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, moving to the supporting view, then the opposing view, and concluding with a well-synthesised summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'For instance', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' are used flexibly and appropriately to connect ideas and paragraphs. Paragraphing is managed effectively, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of arguments from one point to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to the topic of international sports. Less common lexical items are used effectively, such as 'mutual respect', 'cultural exchange', 'excessive celebrations', and 'hostility and tension'. There is good awareness of word choice and collocation, with only occasional minor stylistic imperfections. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the response, allowing smooth reading and clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writer uses a wide variety of complex sentence structures with good control and flexibility. Examples include concessive clauses such as 'Although athletes compete against one another, their rivalry often ends with mutual respect' and conditional or participial integration of ideas. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammatical errors are extremely rare, demonstrating a strong command of English syntax that aligns well with the Band 8 descriptors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.