Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-10

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 5.5)

International sports events are becoming popular such as Olympics and Football World Cup. Some people said that these events are good way to bring countries together. However, other people argue that it creates a sense of competition among countries rather than friendships.

It is acceptable that international sports events and world cups are helpful in building a strong bond among different countries. These events are organized in different countries every year which provide an opportunity to developing countries to become economically strong. For instance, Organizing Football or Cricket World Cup in developing countries bring financial benefit by inviting fans or supporters from all over the world.

On the other hand, these events could create tensions among countries as well. Nations who already have economic or geographical tensions can create strong sense of competition through these events. For instance, India and Pakistan have tensions. Eventually, when teams for different sports events visits each other's country may lead to competition among them. However, they reject to receive their trophy for country.

In my opinion, these sports and world cups are great opportunities for countries to make their bonds or friendships strong. However, it may create some tensions, still these sports are providing options of regular interactions between countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for international events as a way to strengthen relationships, so the response is relevant to the task. However, the discussion is only partial: the benefits are mainly explained through economic gains for host countries, while the claim that events build friendship is not developed with a clear example of countries cooperating. The opposing view is also brief, and the India–Pakistan example is difficult to follow, particularly the point about teams refusing to receive a trophy. The response is 44 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to explain and support your ideas. Develop each side with a specific example and explain how it supports your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a concluding opinion. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” and “In my opinion” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. For example, the move from economic benefits to the claim that events build a “strong bond” is not fully explained, and the final sentences of the India–Pakistan paragraph do not connect clearly to the preceding point. Some references, including “these events” and “they,” could be more precise. To strengthen cohesion, make each paragraph follow a clear sequence of claim, explanation, and example, and ensure that each sentence explicitly connects to the one before it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “economic benefit,” “tensions,” “competition,” and “regular interactions.” This gives you enough language to communicate the main ideas, and some choices show an attempt to discuss the issue beyond basic terms. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “become economically strong,” “strong sense of competition,” and “make their bonds or friendships strong.” Repetition of “events,” “countries,” and “strong” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and vary key terms—for example, describe host nations as gaining “economic benefits,” and say that events can “foster international ties.” Check word forms and phrasing so that your intended meaning is immediately clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrastive clause in “However, it may create some tensions, still these sports are providing options…”. The main ideas are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “Some people said” where the present-tense reporting verb is needed, “which provide” after the singular subject “These events,” and “teams … visits,” where the verb does not agree with the plural subject. The sentence beginning “Eventually, when teams…” is also incomplete as written, and the final sentence joins contrasting clauses without suitable punctuation or a conjunction. Practise subject–verb agreement, complete conditional or time clauses, and accurate sentence joining while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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