Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy food produced all over the world.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

It is increasingly argued that social media platforms are having a harmful effect on modern society. I completely agree with this view because social media damages young people's mental health and accelerates the spread of misinformation.

The most significant negative impact of social media is the severe damage it inflicts on young people's mental health. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok constantly expose users to idealised images of beauty, wealth, and success, which creates unrealistic expectations and leads to feelings of inadequacy among impressionable teenagers. For instance, a comprehensive study conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom found that 70% of young people reported increased anxiety and depression after regular social media use, with Instagram rated as the most damaging platform for adolescent well-being. While supporters argue that social media allows young people to connect with friends and build communities, the overwhelming body of scientific evidence suggests that the psychological harm far outweighs these social benefits. Therefore, social media represents a serious and growing threat to the mental well-being of an entire generation.

Furthermore, social media has become the primary vehicle for the rapid spread of misinformation, which poses a direct threat to democratic societies. Unlike traditional media, where journalists verify facts before publication, social media allows any individual to share unverified content with millions of users instantly, and sophisticated algorithms actively promote sensational or controversial posts because they generate higher engagement. For example, during the global pandemic, the World Health Organisation warned of an "infodemic" caused by the viral spread of false medical advice on Facebook and Twitter, which led thousands of people to reject life-saving vaccines based on fabricated claims. Not only does this misinformation endanger individual health decisions, but it also erodes public trust in scientific institutions and democratic processes, creating a deeply polarised and misinformed society. Consequently, the role of social media in spreading dangerous falsehoods confirms that its overall impact on society is profoundly negative.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that social media has a detrimental impact on society because it severely damages the mental health of young people and facilitates the uncontrolled spread of misinformation. Unless these platforms are subject to stricter regulation, the harm they cause will only continue to intensify.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 2.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for an opinion on the global trade of food products, but the essay discusses the negative impacts of social media. While the essay is well-structured and argues its point clearly, it fails to address the specific task requirements. According to the IELTS criteria, a response that is largely off-topic must be penalised heavily in Task Achievement, as it does not address the prompt provided. Consequently, the score for this criterion is low, as the content does not relate to the topic of food consumption or global trade.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Despite being off-topic, the essay demonstrates excellent paragraphing and logical progression. The writer uses a clear introduction, two well-developed body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The most significant negative impact', 'For instance', 'Furthermore', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The internal structure of the paragraphs is logical, with clear topic sentences and supporting evidence. The flow of ideas is smooth and professional, showing a high level of competence in managing discourse.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise. The writer employs a wide range of topic-specific language, such as 'idealised images', 'impressionable teenagers', 'sophisticated algorithms', 'infodemic', and 'erodes public trust'. The collocations are natural and accurate, and there is a clear ability to use less common lexical items with ease. The language is varied and contributes to a professional tone throughout the essay. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, demonstrating a strong command of English vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures with high accuracy. The writer uses conditional sentences, relative clauses, and passive constructions effectively, such as 'Unless these platforms are subject to stricter regulation' and 'where journalists verify facts'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. The control over complex sentence forms is consistent, and there are no grammatical slips that impede communication. The grammatical performance is of a very high standard.

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