Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

International sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup attract participants and spectators from many different countries. While some people believe that these occasions help nations build stronger relationships, others argue that they can increase rivalry between them. This essay will discuss both views, and I believe that the positive effects of these events are greater.

On the one hand, international sports competitions can bring people from different countries together because they provide a shared interest and encourage cultural interaction. Millions of people travel abroad to support their national teams, giving them opportunities to meet supporters from other countries and learn about different cultures. In addition, people from different backgrounds often communicate through social media and other online platforms while following the same competition. For example, during major football tournaments, supporters from several nations gather in stadiums and public areas to watch matches and celebrate together. Therefore, international sporting events can create social connections that might not otherwise develop between people from different countries.

On the other hand, these competitions can also create rivalry because supporters may become emotionally attached to their national teams. When people view a sporting victory as a matter of national pride, they may react negatively towards supporters of opposing teams. This can be particularly problematic when disagreements spread through social media, where offensive comments and arguments can quickly escalate. For instance, heated disputes between supporters after an important international match may sometimes result in verbal or physical conflicts. Consequently, although sport is intended to provide entertainment, intense competition can occasionally damage relationships between groups of supporters.

In conclusion, international sporting events can sometimes create rivalry, particularly when supporters become excessively emotionally involved in the results. However, I believe that these events generally provide greater opportunities for people from different countries to interact, share experiences and understand one another.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

Your response addresses all parts of the task thoroughly and presents a clear position throughout the essay. You successfully discuss both views—how international events foster connections through cultural interaction and shared interests, and how they can generate rivalry and emotional conflict—while also clearly stating your own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Your ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as supporters gathering in stadiums and public areas, and the escalation of disputes on social media. To move towards the highest band, you could further nuance your arguments with even deeper analysis or broader contextual examples, ensuring every point is fully explored without any tendency to generalise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Your essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, moving through balanced body paragraphs addressing each side of the argument, and concluding with a concise summary of your views. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Consequently', which help guide the reader smoothly through your arguments. Referencing is clear and paragraphing is used appropriately. To achieve an even higher level of cohesion, you could ensure that cohesive links are entirely seamless and unobtrusive, avoiding any mechanical transitions so that the flow between sentences and ideas feels completely natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using less common items with an awareness of style and collocation, such as 'cultural interaction', 'emotionally attached', 'national pride', and 'intense competition'. Your word choice is generally precise, and errors in spelling or word formation are virtually absent, allowing the reader to follow your argument effortlessly. To elevate your lexical score further, you could incorporate a wider variety of more sophisticated, idiomatic, or academic vocabulary and less common lexical chunks (for instance, replacing standard verbs and adjectives with more precise academic equivalents), while maintaining strict control over collocation and nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

You display an impressive command of grammar and punctuation throughout your response. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you skillfully utilise a wide variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('While some people believe that...') and conditional or participial phrases ('When people view a sporting victory as a matter of national pride...'). Your control of verb tenses, article usage, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions is consistently strong. To reach the absolute pinnacle of this criterion, you would need to produce writing that features even greater syntactic flexibility and rare, flawless mastery across all complex forms with virtually no slip-ups whatsoever.

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