Some people claim that competition improves the quality of our…

How to answer: structure and key points

Essay outline

1. Introduction: restate the question in your own words and give your position.
2. Body paragraph 1: your main reason, with an example.
3. Body paragraph 2: a second reason, or the other side and why it is weaker.
4. Conclusion: restate your position in one or two sentences.
5. Stay on the topic: a response that misses the topic scores zero on every trait.

An outline for this prompt

• The question: How does intense competition affect personal life, work and society?
• Position: Competition can encourage effort, while excessive rivalry deserves limits.
• Paragraph 1: A fair contest can provide a reason to practise and improve, as a hypothetical workplace challenge could illustrate.
• Paragraph 2: When winning overrides shared goals, rivalry may undermine cooperation; contrast this with constructive competition.
• Conclusion: Favour competition that motivates achievement without overwhelming other social values.

These are key points and a structure written by RealPTE, not a script to memorise: say or write it in your own words.

Questions about this question