Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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)

Sports play an essential role in people's personal and professional lives. A few individuals think that events like the Football World Cup and so on promote unity and friendship among nations, while others argue that they encourage conflict and rivalry. I will discuss both views in the upcoming paragraphs along with my opinions.

In the beginning, international competitions bring the countries closer together. Athletes from different nations can develop mutual respect as they learn different knowledge from other countries. For instance, athletes from different backgrounds learn different cultures and traditions from others during competitions. Furthermore, they can build strong relationships with each other.

On the other hand, International sporting events create competition among athletes. Firstly, they are passionate about winning the match and bringing a medal to their country. They develop agressive behaviour toward other team members.

In my perspective, sports events can motivate athletes to improve their performance, teamwork, and respect for their opponents.

In conclusion, although international sporting events sometimes increase national rivalry and hostility, they also provide valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. I believe that, when sportsmanship and respect are prioritised, these events are an effective way to bring countries and their people closer together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both views and give a clear overall opinion: the conclusion supports the idea that sporting events can bring people closer when respect is prioritised. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The unity paragraph mainly repeats that athletes learn about cultures and form relationships, without explaining how this affects relations between countries or giving a specific example. The opposing view is even less developed: winning and aggressive behaviour are mentioned, but the response does not explain how rivalry can create tension between nations. The response is also below the required 250 words, which limits the space available to develop these points. Extend each side with a clear explanation and a relevant example, then connect your opinion directly to the arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the structure. This meets the lower-band expectation of an organised response, and the progression is generally clear. To make the connections more flexible and precise, develop the relationship between sentences rather than relying mainly on signposting. For example, explain how athletes’ cultural exchanges can influence wider public attitudes, and how the desire to win might affect relations beyond the match. The short body paragraphs also leave ideas abrupt; fuller development would create smoother progression within each paragraph.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “mutual respect,” “national rivalry,” “hostility,” “cultural exchange,” and “mutual understanding.” These phrases help express the central ideas clearly, and the meaning remains understandable throughout. There are also some imprecise or awkward choices: “learn different knowledge” is not a natural collocation, while “agressive behaviour” contains a spelling error and is a broad description of the effect of competition. “In the beginning” is also less suitable than a phrase that introduces an argument. Aim for more precise collocations and varied wording, especially when explaining how competition affects relations between countries. Proofreading spelling and choosing natural combinations of words would strengthen control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled, such as “I will discuss both views in the upcoming paragraphs along with my opinions” and the concluding sentence beginning “I believe that, when sportsmanship and respect are prioritised…”. Subordination with “as” and “when” shows some range, and errors rarely prevent understanding. Some sentence patterns are less secure or could be clearer. In “Athletes from different nations can develop mutual respect as they learn different knowledge from other countries,” the clause is grammatically formed, but its intended relationship would be clearer with a more precise construction. Also check capitalisation after a sentence boundary: “International” is unnecessarily capitalised after “On the other hand,”. Continue varying sentence structures while proofreading punctuation and sentence-level accuracy.

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