Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-27

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 6.0)

To begin with, the world cup is a competition that consist of 32 countries from all parts of the world. These teams usually convene at the host country. They partake in the competition moving from one stage to the final where the overall winner is given a sculpture designed to fit the logo representing the world cup. This also consist of other medals and consolation prizes. The prize giving consist of different categories which include the best player, the best referee and best coach.

The world cup has been known to foster friendship and also broaden the horizon of not just the players but also the supporters. An example of this are the local residents who welcome them at the airport showcasing the local dances and music. The players also visit local restaurants and get to try different recipes.

On the other hand, it is believed that these events create competition which is true. However it is a healthy way to compete as this helps us to know the better team. The world cup also promotes tourism. This could be seen in the number of supporters who would go to the host country to support their team. Many of these supporters also visit the local markets and patronise the sellers which also boost their economy for these period.

The world cup also plays a significant role in fostering cultural integration as it gives the players the opportunity to learn about the host country, their independence, and their beliefs. This competition also help families bond as the footballers wives and children get to travel to show support.

This competition has been known to also help the footballers in their career progression as can be seen when they finish and different football clubs try to poach those who played very well and get them to switch to their clubs. This can also be seen in the parts of companies trying to sign these players by giving them mouthwatering endorsement deals by getting them to promote their brands as the world cup has given them visibility on international levels

In conclusion, while the world cup has been known to create competition, I believe these competitions give the footballers healthy ways to compete and also give them the opportunity to meet other personalities from all walks of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt—discussing whether international sports events bring countries together or create competition, while providing a personal opinion in the conclusion. The introduction outlines what the world cup consists of, though it spends slightly too much time describing prizes and trophies rather than addressing the core prompt immediately. Ideas are presented, such as cultural integration, tourism, and career progression for footballers, which support the discussion. However, some arguments like the mention of footballers' wives and children could be extended further for greater depth. The position is clear overall, but the development of ideas aligns most closely with Band 6 descriptors, as some aspects feel slightly descriptive rather than fully argued.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraph breaks separating distinct ideas, such as cultural integration, economic benefits, and career impacts. However, the progression between sentences and paragraphs can sometimes feel mechanical or abrupt. For instance, transitioning from tourism directly to cultural integration relies on basic connectors like 'The world cup also plays a significant role...' repeated frequently at the start of paragraphs. Referencing is generally understandable, but logical flow could be enhanced by employing a wider variety of cohesive devices rather than relying heavily on repetitive sentence openings. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, placing the essay comfortably within the Band 6 descriptor range for cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'cultural integration', 'career progression', 'endorsement deals', and 'consolation prizes'. There are attempts at less common vocabulary, but some word choices and collocations feel slightly unnatural or imprecise, such as 'parts of companies' instead of 'corporate entities' or 'companies'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication. The lexical control matches the requirements for Band 6, providing enough flexibility to discuss the topic adequately while showing occasional lexical limitations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms throughout the essay, such as relative clauses ('supporters who would go to the host country') and conditional structures. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues present, including missing commas, subject-verb agreement slips (e.g., 'competition also help'), and run-on structures. For example, 'However it is a healthy way to compete as this helps us to know the better team' lacks necessary punctuation. Nevertheless, these errors rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear. The control of grammar aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor.

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