Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-19

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)

Sportsmanship is one of the basic skill an athlete should have. Many people believed that international sports like Olympics are benefical to bring countries together.However, some argues that these will just create a great competition between countries. Thus, creating a gap. Allow me to discuss the different views and opinions regarding this matter.

Firstly, events like this allows an athlete interact with diverse people across the globe. If you are an extrovert kind of person, then you will most likely gain friends and enjoy getting to know other people. This would allow in creating strong bonds and connection to other people. At the same time, you get to enjoy the whole event without feeling pressured.

On the contrary, some people believe that this would result to rivalry. For instance, if you are an introvert kind of person, you might find talking to other people irritating and annoying. In addition, if you are a competitive individual you might feel threatened and issues such as conflicts might escalate.

In my opinion, I would say that sports organizers should create more events with wide contenders across the globe. As this would also result to high tourism to the host country that would mainly beneficial in one's economy. This would also give opportunities for young atheltes get to know different races with different cultural background and beliefs. In conclusion, it is the experience that matters. If you are dedicated,passionate and you enjoy the process, then you will create a lasting and memorable memories that you can share to future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both views and give a personal opinion, so the response is relevant to the task. The first body paragraph explains that athletes can meet people and form connections, while the next presents rivalry and possible conflict. However, these points are only partly developed: the discussion relies on whether someone is an extrovert or introvert, which does not clearly explain how international events bring countries together or create national competition. Your opinion focuses mainly on organizers, tourism and the host economy, rather than directly weighing friendship against rivalry. Develop each view with a specific example, such as athletes interacting across national teams or intense competition between supporters, and state more clearly which effect you consider stronger and why.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, your opinion, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “Firstly,” “On the contrary,” and “In my opinion” helps readers follow the discussion. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Thus, creating a gap” is a fragment and does not explain the preceding contrast, while “As this would also result…” begins an incomplete sentence. The shift from international friendship and rivalry to tourism and personal dedication also weakens progression. Make each paragraph develop one central point, use linking phrases to show how examples support it, and ensure references such as “this” clearly identify the idea being discussed.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “rivalry,” “conflicts,” “host country,” and “cultural background,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts to express ideas beyond basic vocabulary, such as “lasting and memorable memories.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. “Create a great competition” is not a natural way to describe relations between countries, and “high tourism” is imprecise. “Extrovert” and “introvert” are repeated as the main explanation, limiting the vocabulary used to discuss international relations. Choose more precise terms for cooperation, national pride and sporting rivalry, and check spelling and word forms such as “beneficial” and “athletes.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple sentences and longer structures, including conditional forms such as “If you are an extrovert… then you will most likely gain friends.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or incomplete. Examples include “Sportsmanship is one of the basic skill” (number agreement), “events like this allows” (subject–verb agreement), and “This would allow in creating” (incorrect sentence pattern). “As this would also result…” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Practise accurate agreement, articles and complete sentence structures, then combine ideas using controlled complex sentences. Proofreading for sentence boundaries and commas would also improve clarity.

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