Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Nowadays, some people believe that international sports are a good ways to bring countries together. While others say that these events create compétition between countries. In my opinion, both these international sports can bring countries together and can create competition between countries.

Firstly, international sports are good way to bring countries together because the promote peace, friendship, and unity among people from different cultures. The also encourage respect, teamwork, and mutual understanding. For example : during the FIFA World Cup, athletes from different countries compete together and share their cultures. Moreover, these events help people to develop positive relationship and reduce discrimination around the world.

Secondly, these events create competition between countries because they may encourage discrimination and conflict between supporters. For example sometimes, some fans may insult people from others nations when their teams lose a match. Moreover, these events can cause environmental pollution due to traffic and requires a lot of money that they could spent on education.

In conclusion, although international sports events bring countries together, they can also create rivality between nations. In my view, these events are important to maintain harmony between nations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You discuss both views and state a position: international sports can unite countries, but can also create rivalry. The examples about cultural exchange and insulting fans are relevant, and you add concerns about pollution and spending. However, the position is not fully consistent: the conclusion says the events are important for harmony without explaining how this weighs against the risks. Several points are asserted rather than developed, such as how events reduce discrimination or how competition leads to conflict. The response also does not meet the required minimum of 250 words, so the discussion remains brief and only partially developed. Extend each main point with explanation and a specific example, then make your final judgement clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion, and the two sides are separated logically. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and also shows some stronger control through paragraphing and a recognisable progression. However, linking is somewhat mechanical, with “Moreover” repeated, and some connections between claims are abrupt—for example, the move from competition to environmental pollution and public spending. Use a wider range of transitions and make the relationship between each supporting point and the paragraph’s main idea explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “unity,” “mutual understanding,” “discrimination,” and “environmental pollution,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There is also some attempt to express abstract concepts rather than relying only on basic words. However, the range is limited and several noticeable word-choice, spelling, or collocation errors reduce precision: “a good ways,” “positive relationship,” “rivality,” and “compétition.” Phrases such as “compete together” are also imprecise in this context. Build a more accurate set of collocations for international events and rivalry, and check spelling and word forms carefully. More precise vocabulary would help distinguish friendly competition from hostility between supporters or nations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use a mixture of simple sentences and some attempts at complex structures, including “because” clauses and the contrast introduced by “although.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors are frequent enough to make the writing less controlled. Examples include missing or incorrect articles and agreement in “international sports are good way” and “they promote” (written as “the promote”), as well as “these events … requires.” The sentence about money also has faulty verb forms: “they could spent.” Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly around “For example.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and modal verb patterns, then proofread each sentence for a complete and correctly formed structure.

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