Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18
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)
Some people argue that international games bring regions together while others argue that these types of events increase the rivalry between countries. However, I believe that international sports events like The Olympics, Football World Cup and Cricket World Cup bring people together as this allows people to connect with others.
Worldwide sports competitions allow people to connect as a group. This means that people with the same passion come together and support their favourite team or sportsman. Even though they are from various regions, they sit together and cheer for their favourite team along with other individuals. This creates harmony among countries. As an example, in the Football World Cup, fans from different countries support their idol sportsman or team. Additionally, some countries organise friendship matches between countries to make peace. Therefore, international sports events are a good way to bring countries together.
On the other hand, some people think that these events create competition among countries. This is because individuals who are addicted to sports events become more emotional over losses. Thus, they make aggressive decisions. For instance, in the 2024 Cricket World Cup, fans of the runners-up team fought with the rival team's fans over their loss. Hence, international sports events create problems and misunderstandings between countries.
In conclusion, while some believe that sports events create rivalry among countries, I believe international games bring people and countries together because sports allow people to sit together and support their idol sportsman.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both views required by the prompt and presents a clear personal opinion. The writer discusses how international games connect people through shared passions and, conversely, how emotional attachment to outcomes can trigger rivalry and aggression. Ideas are supported with examples, such as reference to the Football World Cup and Cricket World Cup. However, it is important to note the length requirement: the text contains 242 words, which falls short of the 250-word minimum penalty threshold. This minor under-length impacts full task completion under the descriptor, limiting the overall score for this criterion. Nevertheless, all prompt components are acknowledged, and a cohesive viewpoint is maintained throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, with the first body paragraph focusing on unity and the second on competition. Cohesive devices are generally well managed, using transition phrases such as 'However', 'This means that', 'Even though', and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is mostly clear, though some linking expressions feel slightly repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'This is because' and 'As an example'. Overall, the logical structure remains easy to follow and meets the requirements for a Band 7 performance.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'international sports events', 'rivalry', 'harmony', and 'aggressive decisions'. While the lexical selection is generally clear and communicates meaning effectively, it lacks a wider variety of sophisticated or less common lexical items, often relying on simpler terms like 'good way', 'bring people together', and 'fans'. There are minor word choice and collocation limitations, but spelling and word formation are accurate throughout, ensuring that communication is never impeded.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively ('Even though they are from various regions, they sit together...'). There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and control of punctuation and basic grammar is strong. Minor slips occur, such as the slightly unnatural phrasing 'idol sportsman' instead of 'favorite sports star' or 'sports idol', but these do not impede communication. The control over grammar is solid, making this a reliable performance matching the Band 7 criteria.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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