Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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)

Some people believe that the best way to bring countries together is by organising international sporting events, such as the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup. Others, however, argue that these events create competition rather than friendship between countries. This essay will discuss both views before presenting my opinion.

Firstly, international sporting events can be an effective way to bring nations together. One important reason is that they can strengthen friendships and relationships between people from different countries. To explain further, people may begin to trust and understand each other better through their shared experiences and interests. For example, international football competitions require players from different countries to interact with teammates, coaches and supporters from various cultural backgrounds. This provides opportunities for people to build friendships and develop a better understanding of other nations.

On the other hand, some people argue that international sporting events can increase competition between countries. One possible consequence is conflict among supporters, which can sometimes lead to public disorder. This is because people can become emotionally attached to their national teams. Therefore, when their team loses an important match, some supporters may react aggressively and cause damage to public or private property. For example, after India's defeat in an important cricket tournament, some frustrated supporters have protested in the streets and damaged property. This demonstrates that sporting events can sometimes create tension rather than friendship.

In my opinion, international sporting events are generally a good way to bring countries closer together because they provide opportunities for people from different nations to interact and develop friendships. Although competition is an unavoidable part of sport, organisers can reduce negative behaviour by establishing clear rules and ensuring that matches are conducted fairly and safely.

In conclusion, international sporting events can help bring countries together by encouraging cultural understanding, teamwork and friendship. Although there is a possibility of conflict because every team wants to win, the positive opportunities for international cooperation can make these events an effective way of strengthening relationships between nations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on international sporting events—their ability to unite nations and their potential to ignite fierce competition and disorder—while clearly presenting a personal opinion. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are well developed and extended with relevant examples, such as football competitions fostering intercultural understanding and cricket tournament reactions illustrating public disorder. The arguments are logical, persuasive, and directly answer the prompt requirements without any irrelevant tangents.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear and logical organisation with a natural progression of ideas throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a balanced introduction, moving through well-supported body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint, followed by a clear personal stance and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and appropriately, such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion', which help guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is skilfully managed, ensuring that the structure supports the flow of ideas seamlessly.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'intercultural understanding', 'public disorder', 'emotionally attached', and 'international cooperation'. While the vocabulary is not overly complex or rare, it is precise, natural, and allows the writer to convey their ideas fluently. Word choice and spelling are accurate throughout, with no noticeable errors that impede communication or strain the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or multi-clause sentences like 'Although competition is an unavoidable part of sport, organisers can reduce negative behaviour by establishing clear rules...' The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of control over grammar and punctuation. Control of complex forms is generally reliable, and minor slips are virtually absent. The grammatical range supports clear communication without causing any difficulty for the reader.

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