Competition Between Students: Healthy or Harmful?
A complete IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 285 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that competition between students is healthy because it motivates them to do their best. Others argue that it is harmful to their wellbeing and self-esteem. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Present both views in clearly separated body paragraphs before giving your opinion
- 02Use specific examples — exam preparation, sports finals, cooperative learning
- 03State your position in the introduction and reinforce it in the conclusion
- 04Reference research or general findings (e.g., 'studies link', 'has been shown to') for credibility
- 05Adopt a balanced, measured tone rather than an extreme stance
- 06Use evaluative vocabulary: 'motivational power', 'psychological costs', 'low-stakes contexts'
Model answer
285 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
Whether classroom competition pushes young people to thrive or quietly undermines their mental health has become a contested issue in modern education. While supporters of competition emphasise its motivational power, critics highlight its psychological costs. In my view, competition can be beneficial only when carefully managed, and a primary focus on collaboration tends to produce better long-term outcomes.
On the one hand, advocates of competition argue that it mirrors real-world conditions and prepares students for adult life. Class rankings, prizes, and academic contests can encourage learners to develop discipline, set higher goals, and discover their strengths. For instance, students preparing for university entrance examinations or sports finals often report that the prospect of comparison sharpens their focus and resilience. From this perspective, competition functions as a useful incentive that schools should harness rather than suppress.
On the other hand, opponents point out that constant comparison can be deeply damaging, particularly for younger or less confident students. When school culture treats every test as a winner-takes-all event, those who fall behind may internalise feelings of failure, withdraw socially, or develop anxiety. Studies in several countries link high-pressure exam cultures to rising rates of student burnout and even depression. Cooperative learning, by contrast, has been shown to improve both achievement and wellbeing for the majority of pupils.
In my opinion, the issue is less about whether competition exists than how it is framed. Healthy competition is structured around personal improvement and team-based challenges rather than public rankings that single out weaker performers. Teachers should celebrate progress, encourage peer support, and reserve competitive activities for low-stakes contexts.
In conclusion, while competition can motivate when used sparingly, an overall emphasis on collaboration and personal growth better protects students' wellbeing.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
6 fewer than the median answer for this task type
13 words at the shortest, 24 at the longest
1 more than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 19 words and vary by 3.2 words either side of that, running from 13 words to 24. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 10 of the 15 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
7 in total, spread across 3 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
on the other hand, by contrast, while
for instance
in conclusion, overall
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 87 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 77 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 3 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Address both perspectives fully, present a clear personal opinion, and support each side with reasons and examples.
Coherence & Cohesion
Organise the essay with a clear introduction, two balanced body paragraphs, opinion, and conclusion.
Lexical Resource
Use a range of vocabulary relating to education, motivation, and mental health with accurate collocations.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Demonstrate accurate use of conditionals, concession, and complex sentence structures.
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