Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

International sporting events, such as the Olympic Games and the Football world cup, attract millions of people worldwide. While some believe these competitions prompt unity among nations, others argue that they encourage rivalry. In my opinion, although competition in inevitable, these events generally strengthen international relationship.

On the one hand, international sports events provide opportunities for people from different countries to interact and understand one another's cultures. Athletes live together, exchange ideas and develop mutual respect despite their different backgrounds. Similarly, supporters travel abroad to cheer their teams, creating friendships with from other nations. For example, the Olympic games athletes from numerous countries, demonstrating that people can cooperate peacefully despite political and culture difference. Therefore, such events can promote tolerance and a sense of global unity.

On the other hand, some people argue that these competitions increase hostility between nations. Since winning is often associated with national pride, supporters may become aggressive towards rival teams. Furthermore, intense media coverage can exaggerate. disagreements and encourage nationalistic attitudes. For instance, football matches sometimes leads to arguments or violence between opposing supporters. In addition, countries may use sporting victories to demonstrate their superiority, which can create unnecessary tension.

However, I believe that the positive effects outweigh the negative ones. Competition itself is not harmful, rather problems arise when people forget the importance of sportsmanship and mutual respect. With appropriate security measure and campaigns promoting fair play, international sporting events can encourage healthy competition while bringing people closer together.

In conclusion, although major sports competitions can create rivalry and occasional conflict, they also encourage cultural exchange and mutual understanding. I believe they are effective way to unite countries, provided that respect and fair play remain their central values.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response addresses both views and gives a clear, consistent opinion: international events can create rivalry, but their benefits for unity outweigh this risk. Each side is supported with relevant explanations, including athletes sharing cultures and supporters sometimes becoming aggressive. The final paragraph also adds a condition—security measures and fair-play campaigns—which makes the position more considered. To develop the discussion further, make examples more specific and explain their implications in greater depth. For instance, the reference to Olympic athletes cooperating is relevant but general; a concrete example of cooperation across national or political divisions would make the support more persuasive. Overall, the main ideas are extended and supported, though some claims remain broad.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay has a clear progression: an introduction presents the debate and your view, two body paragraphs examine opposing arguments, and the conclusion restates your position. Paragraphing is effective, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “However” help readers follow the argument. The contrast between competition and sportsmanship also links the discussion to your conclusion. Some connections could be smoother and more precise. For example, “For example, the Olympic games athletes…” is an awkward transition into the illustration, and the abrupt full stop in “exaggerate. disagreements” interrupts the flow. Refine these local links and use referencing more carefully to make the cohesion less noticeable.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a sufficient range of topic vocabulary and show some flexibility, including “mutual respect,” “national pride,” “nationalistic attitudes,” “cultural exchange,” and “sportsmanship.” These choices help express both the cooperative and competitive sides of the issue. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form that reduce precision: “international relationship” would be more natural as “international relations,” while “supporters with from other nations” is not idiomatic. “Intense media coverage can exaggerate disagreements” is also an imprecise collocation; coverage may amplify or fuel disagreements. Continue building on the relevant vocabulary you already use, while checking that phrases sound natural in context and that word forms are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response uses a variety of sentence forms, including subordinate clauses (“although competition is inevitable”), a conditional structure (“provided that respect and fair play remain…”), and complex explanations beginning with “Since” and “Furthermore.” Many sentences are clear and grammatically controlled. A few errors persist, however: “competition in inevitable” needs “is,” “football matches sometimes leads” needs plural agreement (“lead”), and “they are effective way” requires an article (“an effective way”). The sentence beginning “For example” also lacks a clear grammatical connection between “Olympic games” and “athletes.” Review agreement, articles, and sentence construction, and proofread punctuation, especially the misplaced full stop in “exaggerate. disagreements.”

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