Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02

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)

In this contemporary era, there are contrasting views where one section of society believes that sports matches and clubs play a crucial part in connecting people with each other around the globe, while the opposing view suggests that such events create rivalry and cause distance between states. I will discuss both viewpoints in detail over the subsequent paragraphs.

To commence with, the majority of the population is vastly interested in and regularly participates in these games, whether by watching them on TV, attending live games, or engaging in discussions through social media. Additionally, many citizens travel abroad to watch their favourite players play and connect with fans in stadiums. To exemplify, as was seen during the last FIFA World Cup, Norway fans chanted their national anthem with the team players, and many individuals joined them despite being from another country. Hence the above example vividly illustrates why these sports events bring people closer from all around the world.

On the contrary, many citizens tend to take these events very seriously and fight over their team winning or losing. In other words, many fans take victory or loss personally and are inclined to act on those emotions by either trolling on digital platforms or getting into a fight with opposing team supporters. For instance, during the France vs. Morocco FIFA World Cup semi-final, Morocco did not win, which led to a nationwide conflict in Paris. Thus, the afore-mentioned reasons substantiate how these events can have adverse effects.

To recapitulate, this essay clearly discussed the importance of sports tournaments and the bonding of individuals over games, as well as the negative impact of such events on citizens and countries. From my point of view, these competitions are essential for viewers as well as states, as they not only bring joy to citizens but also bring recognition.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on international sports events and providing a personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas varies in depth. While the benefits of sports in bringing people together are supported by a specific example regarding the FIFA World Cup, the counterargument concerning rivalry is somewhat under-developed and relies on a single localized instance of conflict in Paris. Furthermore, the presentation of your own opinion in the conclusion is relatively brief and lacks full extension. To move to a higher level, you should ensure that both viewpoints receive equally thorough elaboration, backing up claims with deeper explanations and broader contextual examples rather than relying on brief anecdotes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the introduction through the body paragraphs to the conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct viewpoint. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as 'To commence with', 'Additionally', and 'On the contrary'. However, the referencing and mechanical transitions occasionally border on formulaic, and some cohesive links feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. To achieve a higher standard of cohesion, you could integrate cohesive elements more flexibly and naturally within sentences rather than relying heavily on standard transitional phrases at the start of paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, demonstrating an acceptable range that allows you to convey your message clearly. You attempt less common vocabulary items, such as 'contemporary era', 'trolling on digital platforms', and 'substantiate', which show a reasonable command of topic-related terminology. However, there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fight over their team winning' rather than 'disputes over match outcomes', and minor stylistic awkwardness in phrases like 'cause distance between states'. To reach a higher level, focus on using less common lexical items with greater precision and natural stylistic awareness, ensuring your vocabulary choices are consistently idiomatic and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

Your writing demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation, showcasing a variety of complex structures alongside simpler forms. You produce frequent error-free sentences, such as 'While one section of society believes that sports matches and clubs play a crucial part in connecting people with each other around the globe...' which exhibits strong command over complex clause structures. Control of verb tenses, articles, and prepositions is generally solid throughout the piece, though a few minor slips persist, such as 'bring people closer from all around the world' where phrasing could be tighter. To maintain this strong performance, continue paying close attention to minor grammatical patterns and prepositions in complex sentences.

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