Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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)

Individuals have differing views regarding International sports events. While some believe that it unites different countries, others argue that it drives rivalry. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe tournaments are an incredible way of fostering community.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people believe that it bridge the gap between various nations. The main reason is that it serves as an opportunity to set aside differences, be it political, cultural, religious or lingual. Moreover, provides a platform for spectators from around the globe to learn from each other. This is because tournaments acts as a powerful catalyst for their unification. For example, the internationally lauded practice of Japanese football supporters tidying stadiums during global tournaments not only acted as a formative experience, it also carved a lasting reputation globally and earned deep respect for the whole community.

While the aforementioned arguments are compelling, the opposing viewpoint also carries significant merit. One vital reason is that mostly the defeating teams grow resentful towards the triumphant team. As a result, fan disruptions erupt at stadiums and online heated debates engender unwarranted tensions. Crowd is seen hurling derogatory chants at opposing teams, intensifying the situation further. As in the India and Pakistan cricket world-cup matches. Therefore, competitions like these among nations with an already unsettled geopolitical friction ends up fueling the situation further.

Having said that, I am still inclined towards the notion that it gathers diverse individuals under one roof, be it on the name of football, cricket or Olympics. It fosters sportsman spirit among individuals and harbors a sense of respect for each other.

In conclusion, although there are convincing arguments in favor of people considering it as a source of creating rivalry, I believe that coming together for a sport, is an impetus towards ending future conflicts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for international events as a force for unity, so the response covers the task and maintains a consistent position. The Japanese supporters’ stadium-cleaning example gives the unity argument useful support, while the India–Pakistan example illustrates how rivalry can intensify existing tensions. However, some points are less fully developed than others: the claim that defeated teams become resentful is broad, and the discussion of fan behaviour does not explain how common or representative this is. Your conclusion that sport can help end future conflicts is also stronger than the evidence provided. To strengthen the response, qualify generalisations and explain more directly how the examples support your overall view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear progression: an introduction, a paragraph for each viewpoint, your own position, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “While the aforementioned arguments are compelling,” and “Having said that” makes the structure easy to follow. Ideas within the paragraphs generally develop in a logical order, and examples are placed alongside the claims they illustrate. Some linking is less smooth or precise, however. For instance, “Moreover, provides a platform” lacks a clear subject, and “As in the India and Pakistan cricket world-cup matches” is a fragment rather than a fully integrated example. The final paragraph also repeats the position without adding much development. Aim for more natural transitions and clearer links between claims and examples.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a good range of vocabulary for the topic, including “set aside differences,” “catalyst,” “resentful,” “derogatory chants,” and “geopolitical friction.” These choices show some flexibility and an awareness of formal style. There are occasional problems with collocation or precision: “drives rivalry” is less natural than “fuels rivalry,” and “on the name of football” does not express the intended idea idiomatically. “Formative experience” is also unclear in the context of supporters cleaning a stadium. Some elevated expressions, such as “impetus towards ending future conflicts,” make a broad claim sound more certain than the essay demonstrates. Prefer precise, natural phrasing and ensure less common vocabulary fits the meaning and context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including the contrast in “While some believe… others argue…” and the conditional-style phrase “be it political, cultural, religious or lingual.” Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. In “it bridge the gap,” the verb should agree with the singular subject; “Moreover, provides a platform” needs an explicit subject; and “tournaments acts” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “As in the India and Pakistan…” is incomplete, while “competitions… ends up” has a mismatch between the plural subject and verb. There are also punctuation issues, such as the comma separating “sport” from its verb in the conclusion. Check agreement and sentence completeness, then proofread punctuation while retaining your varied sentence structures.

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