Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-15
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In the future, more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday. Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 7.0)
Travel abroad on holiday will become a matter of considerable debate in contemporary society in the future. While, some believe more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country. There are valid arguments on both sides but I disagree with this statement. This essay will examine the principal reasons behind this view and consider its wider implications.
One significant reason is that travelling to different countries for vacation can play a pivotal role in shaping individuals' personal development. This is largely because it can encourage people to step outside their comfort zones and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. As a result, they may become more self-reliant, resilient and capable of dealing with unexpected challenges. For instance, people who encounter unfamiliar environments are often required to make independent decisions and find practical solutions to everyday problems. Consequently, such experiences can broaden their horizons and foster long-term personal growth.
Another compelling argument concerns the broader social implications of travelling abroad on holiday. More specifically, it can expose individuals to diverse perspectives, cultures and ways of life. This exposure can foster greater understanding and enable people to appreciate viewpoints that differ from their own. A clear example of this can be seen when individuals interact closely with people from different cultural or social backgrounds. Over time, such experiences can cultivate cultural awareness, mutual understanding and stronger social cohesion.
In conclusion, while there are valid arguments concerning travelling for vacation, I believe that holidays in new countries are always a better choice. Ultimately, the potential consequences for individuals, communities and society should be carefully evaluated, particularly in terms of personal development, social interaction and long-term opportunities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The student addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position of disagreement with the statement that more people will holiday domestically in the future. The response puts forward relevant, distinct arguments supporting international travel, specifically focusing on personal development and broader social implications. However, the development of ideas leans somewhat into generalities without providing concrete, personal examples, which is a common feature of Band 6 or 7 responses. For instance, the discussion on personal development outlines that travel encourages stepping out of comfort zones, but the supporting example merely states that 'people who encounter unfamiliar environments are often required to make independent decisions' rather than anchoring this in a specific, detailed scenario. Despite this minor under-development of supporting details, all parts of the prompt are addressed with a clear position maintained throughout. Therefore, the task response comfortably meets the criteria for Band 6.5, rounded to Band 7.0 for addressing all parts with a clear, sustained position.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction establishes the writer's stance, the second and third paragraphs elaborate on personal development and social implications respectively, and the conclusion neatly summarises the viewpoint. Cohesive devices such as 'One significant reason', 'Another compelling argument', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, although some minor punctuation slips occur around transitional phrases (such as the fragment in the introduction: 'While, some believe more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country. There are valid arguments...'). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. Overall, the structural progression is logical and easy to follow, making Band 7.0 an accurate reflection of the student's ability in coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, suitable for Band 7. Expressions such as 'contemporary society', 'pivotal role', 'self-reliant, resilient', and 'social cohesion' illustrate an ability to use less common lexical items with a good awareness of collocation and style. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as 'holidays in new countries are always a better choice', but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate throughout the response. The student successfully avoids overly repetitive phrasing, selecting varied terms to discuss travel, vacation, and cultural exposure, thereby satisfying the upper-intermediate lexical requirements.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional and participial clauses (e.g., 'As a result, they may become more self-reliant, resilient and capable of dealing with unexpected challenges' and 'when individuals interact closely with people from different cultural or social backgrounds'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the overall control of grammar is strong. However, there is a notable punctuation and sentence-boundary error in the introduction where a dependent clause introduced by 'While' is incorrectly punctuated as a standalone sentence followed by a fragment ('While, some believe more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country. There are valid arguments on both sides...'). Despite this slip, the majority of the sentences are well-constructed and accurate, justifying a solid Band 7.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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