Team sports versus individual sports is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2, appearing approximately once every 3-4 months in actual tests. Based on analysis of past papers from 2018-2023, this topic has appeared in various forms, particularly comparing the benefits of team and individual sports for young people. Let’s examine one common variation of this question type.
Question Analysis
Some people think that team sports help develop good character. Others feel that individual sports like tennis and swimming are better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
This is a discussion + opinion essay that requires:
- Examining benefits of both team and individual sports
- Providing a balanced discussion
- Expressing and supporting a personal view
Team sports helping develop leadership and cooperation skills
Band 8.5 Sample Essay
In the realm of sports education, there is ongoing debate about whether team or individual sports are more effective in character development. While both forms offer unique advantages, I believe team sports generally provide better opportunities for building essential life skills.
Team sports like football and basketball excel at fostering crucial interpersonal abilities. Players must learn to communicate effectively, coordinate their actions, and support teammates to achieve collective goals. These experiences naturally develop leadership qualities, as team members take turns guiding others and making strategic decisions. Moreover, team sports teach valuable lessons about sacrificing individual glory for group success, preparing young people for future workplace scenarios where collaboration is essential.
Conversely, individual sports offer distinct benefits for personal development. Sports like tennis and swimming cultivate self-reliance and mental fortitude, as athletes must motivate themselves and take full responsibility for their performance. These activities also help develop precise self-assessment skills and disciplined training habits, as improvement depends entirely on individual effort and dedication.
However, I contend that team sports provide superior character-building benefits. The complex social dynamics in team environments create numerous opportunities for emotional growth, conflict resolution, and leadership development. These experiences more closely mirror real-world situations, where success typically depends on effective collaboration rather than individual excellence alone.
In conclusion, while individual sports undoubtedly contribute to character development, team sports offer a more comprehensive platform for building the interpersonal skills essential in today’s interconnected world.
Individual sports developing mental strength and self-discipline
Band 6.5 Sample Essay
Nowadays, many people discuss about whether team sports or individual sports are better for developing good character. Both types of sports have their own advantages, and I will discuss them in this essay.
Team sports are good for making friends and learning teamwork. When people play football or basketball, they must work together to win the game. Players learn how to talk to others and help their teammates. Also, team sports teach people to think about the group instead of themselves only. This is very important for future work life.
On the other hand, individual sports also have good points. In tennis or swimming, people must try hard by themselves. They cannot depend on others to help them win. This makes them become more independent and strong-minded. They also learn to be responsible for their own success or failure.
In my opinion, I think team sports are more helpful. This is because most people need to work with others in their jobs and daily life. Team sports give more chances to practice these important skills. Also, team sports are more fun because players can share happiness with others.
To conclude, although both types of sports can help build character, I believe team sports are better because they teach more useful skills for life.
Scoring Analysis
Band 8.5 Essay Features:
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “fostering,” “interpersonal abilities,” “cultivate”
- Complex sentence structures
- Clear paragraph organization
- Strong topic development
- Effective use of examples
- Coherent arguments
- Natural transitional phrases
Band 6.5 Essay Features:
- Basic but clear vocabulary
- Simple sentence structures
- Some grammar errors
- Basic organization
- Limited idea development
- Simple examples
- Basic cohesion
Key Vocabulary
- cultivate (v) /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ – to develop or improve
- interpersonal (adj) /ˌɪntəˈpɜːsənl/ – relating to relationships between people
- fortitude (n) /ˈfɔːtɪtjuːd/ – mental and emotional strength
- collaboration (n) /kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn/ – working together
- self-reliance (n) /ˌself rɪˈlaɪəns/ – ability to depend on oneself
Practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments for feedback. Similar topics might include comparing competitive versus recreational sports, or discussing the role of sports in education.
