Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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)

Some individuals believe that international sports events such as The Olympics or the Football World Cup, are a good way to bring countries together. Meanwhile, others argue that these events create competition, not friendship between countries. From my perspective, I strongly agree with the former opinion that is sports events are the best way to bring countries together. This essay will explicate both the views and present my opinion in the upcoming paragraphs along with examples.

There are several arguments regarding the former view. One of the key argument is that these events happen in various state and countries every year. Therefore, country's head are also involves in this type of events. To elucidate, country's head meet up can bring a positive friendhip among each other. Moreover, it can strengthen the bond between the countries. To exemplify, India and Pakistan connnection was not good earlier but now because of the sports, they are positively connected and they keep their sportsmanship.

There are certain reasons regarding the people claim that these events create competition, not friendship between countries. One of the crucial reason is that some individuals demonstrates these events as a compeition because they do not want to win other countries. They always want their own country on the first position. To elaborate, individuals want their favourite player to win the games. Compeition can create rivalries among the people. For instance, in The Olympics, people wants their own team or own country player can get most of the medals.

To recapitulate, there are many arguments for both the views but I strongly believe that the international sports events can bring countries together such as head of the countries can have a meeting in the events and bring positive energy and build a stronger connection between the countries regardless of the competition.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for the idea that international sport brings countries together. The discussion of competition is relevant, and the India–Pakistan example gives the first view some support. However, the response only partially develops the task: the claim that leaders meet at sporting events is not explained in detail, and the example about India and Pakistan is broad rather than showing how a particular event improved relations. The opposing view is also presented mainly as fans wanting their own team to win, without explaining how this competition can damage relations between countries. Develop each side with a specific cause-and-effect explanation, then connect your examples directly to your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “Moreover,” “To exemplify,” and “To recapitulate” helps readers follow the intended stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear or repetitive. For example, the first body paragraph moves from events being held in different countries to leaders meeting, but the link between these points is not fully established. The repeated framing “There are several arguments” and “There are certain reasons” also makes the organisation feel formulaic. Use clearer links between each claim, explanation, and example, and ensure references such as “these events” and “this type of events” are precise and natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “sportsmanship,” “rivalries,” “strengthen the bond,” and “competition,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “To elucidate” and “To elaborate.” However, the range is limited by repetition of “countries,” “events,” and “bring,” while several word choices or spellings are inaccurate: “friendhip,” “compeition,” and “connection” in “India and Pakistan connnection.” Some expressions are also unnatural, such as “country's head” and “on the first position.” Aim for accurate collocations and more precise terms, such as “national leaders,” “diplomatic relations,” and “finish in first place.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast in the introduction and a concluding clause beginning “regardless of the competition.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic agreement, articles, and sentence construction. Examples include “One of the key argument is,” “country's head are also involves,” and “some individuals demonstrates.” The phrase “I strongly agree with the former opinion that is sports events” is also structurally faulty, and “people wants” shows a subject–verb agreement error. These problems sometimes make the reader pause, even though the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and verb, correct agreement, and a complete grammatical structure.

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