Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 modern society, people hold differing views about sports events. While some believe that the Olympics or the football World Cup are a wonderful way to bring countries together, others argue that these occasions produce conflict, not friendships, between nations. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own points.

On the one hand, supporters of the first view argue that it is a nice way. This is mainly because it builds friendship. As a result, athletes and fans interact, develop international relationships, promote unity, and reduce stereotypes. For example, during the Olympics, athletes from many countries live and compete together peacefully, which highlights the effectiveness of this approach.

On the other hand, those who oppose this view believe that it fosters competition. They claim that strong rivalry, which can lead to countries competing to win medals and trophies. Moreover, fans may become aggressive toward opposing teams, national pride can become excessive, and conflicts between supporters can sometimes occur. For instance, football matches between rival regions can lead to arguments or tension among fans, making this perspective equally worthy of consideration.

In my opinion, the view that international sports events generally bring countries closer together is more convincing. This is because they create opportunities for cultural exchange, friendship, and mutual understanding. Although the opposing argument has some merit, it is less practical in real-life situations.

In conclusion, both views regarding international sports have valid arguments. However, I believe that bringing countries closer together is the more reasonable position due to its long-term benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference: international events generally bring countries closer together. Relevant support includes athletes living and competing peacefully, as well as the possibility of aggressive fans. However, several points are asserted rather than developed. The first view is described as a “nice way” to build friendship, and the claim that the opposing argument is “less practical in real-life situations” is not explained or supported. The examples remain general, so the discussion does not fully extend its ideas. The response is also 245 words, five words below the 250-word minimum; the nine words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop the reasons and examples further, especially the basis for your opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear, effective structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for each view, your opinion, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers navigate the argument. Linking phrases including “As a result” and “Moreover” also connect supporting points. To make the organisation more flexible and polished, rely less on formulaic transitions and show more explicitly how each example supports the paragraph’s main claim. For instance, the peaceful interaction of athletes could be linked directly to how it changes perceptions between countries. Overall, the ideas are logically arranged, with some room to make cohesion less predictable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “cultural exchange,” “mutual understanding,” “national pride,” and “stereotypes.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and some phrases show awareness of a more formal essay style. However, several expressions are vague or repetitive: “a nice way” and “builds friendship” do not express the argument precisely, while “bring countries together” and “bringing countries closer together” recur. “Produce conflict” is also less natural in this context than a more precise description of rivalry or tension. To move further, choose more exact collocations and vary repeated wording while keeping the language natural. The vocabulary is generally clear, but its precision and flexibility are not consistent throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concessive opening (“While some believe…”) and a relative clause (“which can lead to…”). Most sentences are clear, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. There is, however, a noticeable sentence-structure error in “They claim that strong rivalry, which can lead to countries competing to win medals and trophies.” The clause beginning with “which” leaves the sentence without a complete main clause; revise it to “They claim that strong rivalry can lead countries to compete…” There is also a slightly awkward construction in “the view that…is more convincing,” though the meaning remains clear. Check that every sentence has a complete independent clause, and continue varying structures while maintaining accuracy.

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