Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22

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 8.0)

International sporting events like the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are among the most watched spectacles in the world. While some people argue that they foster international unity, others believe they fuel rivalry rather than friendship. This essay will discuss both views before concluding that, despite the competitive element, the overall impact is positive.

On the one hand, proponents argue that global sports events bring countries together. These tournaments create a rare platform where nations interact peacefully under a common set of rules. Athletes from vastly different cultures live together in the Olympic Village, exchange ideas, and show mutual respect, which models cooperation for the public. For spectators, the events generate a shared global experience. Millions of people around the world watch the same match at the same time, which creates a sense of common humanity that transcends politics. The Olympic Truce tradition, and moments such as North and South Korean athletes marching together in 2018, illustrate how sport can open diplomatic doors where formal politics has failed.

On the other hand, critics argue that such events create competition and division rather than friendship. International sport is, by definition, nationalistic. Fans are encouraged to support "their" team against others, and media coverage often frames matches in terms of national pride, historical rivalries, or revenge. This can inflame existing tensions. Football matches, for example, have sometimes led to hostile chanting, violence between supporters, and jingoistic press coverage. Furthermore, the race to host the Olympics or World Cup itself can cause bitter political lobbying, accusations of corruption, and resentment when one country wins over another. In this sense, the events mirror geopolitical competition rather than resolving it.

In my opinion, while the risk of nationalism is real, the unifying effect is stronger and more lasting. Competition itself is not necessarily negative; it is a regulated, non-violent form of competition that replaces more dangerous forms of conflict. The structure of these events forces respect - athletes must shake hands, follow the same rules, and accept defeat gracefully. Even when rivalry is intense, such as the Brazil vs. Argentina football rivalry, the contest is contained within a stadium, not a battlefield.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the view that international sports events bring countries together and the view that they create competition and division. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay and is successfully reiterated in the conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the Olympic Village, the Olympic Truce, historical rivalries like Brazil versus Argentina, and the actions of North and South Korean athletes. The reasoning is sound, and the arguments are fully elaborated, easily meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs addressing each perspective, and culminating in a clear personal viewpoint. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', ensuring smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Paragraphing is managed skilfully and appropriately, contributing to the overall readability and cohesion of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The writer displays a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range. Less common and sophisticated vocabulary items are used skilfully throughout the essay, including phrases such as 'foster international unity', 'transcends politics', 'jingoistic press coverage', and 'geopolitical competition'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate and natural, with only very occasional minor slips. The student successfully incorporates precise terminology related to sports diplomacy and international relations, elevating the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used accurately and flexibly. The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating excellent control over subordination, relative clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., 'Athletes from vastly different cultures live together in the Olympic Village, exchange ideas, and show mutual respect, which models cooperation for the public'). Minor punctuation or structural slips are extremely rare and do not impede communication in any way. This level of syntactic variety and accuracy easily satisfies the criteria for Band 8.

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