Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03
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)
International sports events, such as the Olympics or the Football World Cup, are attracting people from different countries. Some people argue that international events promote friendship between nations, while others argue that these events create competition. This essay will discuss both views, and I believe that international sports bring countries together despite creating competition.
On the one hand, international sports improve relationships between different countries. Individuals from different countries meet each other during these events, share their culture, and communicate with each other. For example, people from different countries live in the same hotel and share their thoughts, which is a great chance to make friends. Therefore, these events are the best ways to create a strong bond between countries.
On the other hand, these games naturally create strong competition between nations. Because athletes and fans want their country to win, which can sometimes lead to arguments and unfriendly behavior. For instance, supporters get angry when their national team loses an important match. In addition, countries only focus on winning trophies and medals, which can create national rivalry rather than cooperation.
In my opinion, although international sports create competition between countries, they generally provide opportunities for nations to interact peacefully. Competition is an important part of sport, but athletes and spectators can still respect one another. Therefore, I believe that international sporting events can contribute to better understanding and friendship between countries.
In conclusion, international sports events can create both competition and opportunities for friendship. However, when people focus on cultural exchange and mutual respect, these events can help bring nations closer together.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on international sports events and providing a clear personal opinion. The thirteen words copied directly from the prompt were not counted toward the minimum length requirement. Ideas are generally relevant, but some are slightly under-developed; for instance, the point about athletes and fans wanting their country to win leading to arguments could be extended with more specific elaboration. To reach the next higher band, the main arguments would need more fully sustained development and deeper examples to support the broader claims.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
There is a clear logical organisation and progression throughout the essay. The writer makes effective use of standard cohesive devices, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion', to signal the direction of the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion distinctly. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional transitional links feel somewhat standard or mechanical rather than entirely seamless. To achieve a higher band, the response would need to demonstrate even more flexible and sophisticated management of cohesion without relying on predictable formulaic markers.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate ideas clearly and convey opinions regarding competition and friendship. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'cultural exchange', 'mutual respect', and 'national rivalry', although there is occasional slight inaccuracy in word choice or collocation, such as stating that events 'are attracting people' rather than 'attract' people. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, a wider and more precise range of less common lexical items and idiomatic phrases would need to be integrated naturally and accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and conditional constructions to express contrasting ideas. There are some errors in grammar, such as the tense usage in 'are attracting people' in the opening sentence and a minor fragment or dependent clause issue in 'Because athletes and fans want their country to win, which can sometimes lead to...', but these errors rarely impede communication and do not obscure the meaning. To reach the next band, the text would require a higher frequency of error-free complex structures and tighter control over punctuation and clause linkage.
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