Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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 6.0)

There is an ongoing debate about whether international sports events namely, The Olympics or the Football World Cup, help countries connect globally or create competition among them. Although competing on an international level may bring a sense of rivalry, I believe it can be a great opportunity to understand different cultures on a single platform.

Critics argue that international sports events fill athletes with rage that they want to defeat their competitor countries by hook or by crook. This is true especially when nations have some preconceived notions about each other. To defeat their rival countries they sometimes tend to harm them physically. For example, when some countries have disagreement over political or trade related policies, they tend of harm each others' image internationally by defeating them.

However, international sports events provide players with a platform to understand other cultures and traditions more closely. This is mainly because in these events almost all nations participate enthusiastically and athletes from different cultures compete with each other. When they interact , play and spend time together, they share their cultural and traditional values which may make their bonds stronger. They get to know each other better. Consequently, nations with similar values are likely to support each other politically as well as economically which contribute to their overall development.

In conclusion, even though international sports events create competition among different countries, it helps them collaborate globally by understanding each others' culture and traditions which further makes their economies ties stronger.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference: rivalry can occur, but events can help people understand other cultures. The response is relevant, and the example of political disagreements gives some support to the competition argument. However, that example remains hypothetical and the claim that countries may harm one another physically is not explained or illustrated. The positive side is more developed, but the link from athletes’ interactions to stronger political and economic ties between nations is asserted rather than demonstrated. The conclusion restates your position without adding support. The response is three words below the required minimum, so it does not meet the task’s length requirement. Develop both arguments with clearer, specific examples and explain how they support your view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph presenting the competition view, a paragraph supporting international understanding, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “However” and “In conclusion” make the shift between these sections easy to follow. Within paragraphs, ideas generally progress from a claim to an explanation, especially in the discussion of athletes sharing cultural values. Some connections are less clear or mechanical, however. The example about political disagreements does not clearly show how sporting defeat harms a country’s image, and “Consequently” introduces a broad claim about political and economic support without enough explanation. Improve cohesion by making the relationship between each example and its main point explicit, and by varying repeated references to countries and events.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “international level,” “rivalry,” “preconceived notions,” “traditions,” and “collaborate globally.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and the meaning is generally clear. There are also some inaccurate or unnatural collocations that limit precision: “fill athletes with rage,” “by hook or by crook,” and “harm each others’ image” do not fit the intended formal discussion naturally. “Economies ties” is also an inaccurate phrase, while “cultural and traditional values” repeats closely related wording. Aim for more precise, formal combinations such as “intensify national rivalry,” “damage another country’s reputation,” and “strengthen economic ties.” Check possessive forms and word combinations when editing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concessive opening (“Although competing on an international level may bring…”) and a conditional clause (“When they interact, play and spend time together…”). Most sentences remain understandable, and errors rarely obstruct the message. Some grammatical inaccuracies are noticeable, though. In “they sometimes tend of harm,” the verb pattern should be “tend to harm”; “each others’ image” has an incorrect possessive form; and “which contribute to their overall development” does not agree with the singular clause it refers to. The final sentence also shifts from plural “events” to singular “it.” Review verb patterns, subject–verb agreement, possessives, and consistent pronoun reference. More accurate control of these forms would make the complex sentences clearer.

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