Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

More and more people nowadays visit well-known places to take photographs of themselves, without looking at the place.

Why do you think this is happening?

Is it a positive or a negative trend?

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

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Pictures. They have unknowingly become such an important part of our lives. We, as creatures of habit, have made it into second nature to record every moment we are in. But, from where I see, I think it is a positive thing.

You go to places, you capture yourself in that exact- place, moment, and feeling. After a few days go ahead, you're going to go back to look at them and find yourself feeling those exact things again.

Isn't this what we call as Nostalgia?

I am currently living in Canada since a couple of years and when I look back at pictures of myself from back home, or my childhood, I either get teary-eyed, or find myself grinning, smiling, laughing, or sharing those memories with my housemates or sometimes ever talking to my mother about them over a video-call. Believe it or not, those pictures were the only things that would keep me going somedays.

Such is the power of one single picture.

Then, there are times when you come back home from having a really long day, you lay on your couch, and a notification pops up of yourself in your best shape in one of the best places from a vacation you had gone to, 10 years ago. Oh my god, can you believe what one must go through when you look at that?

Not only are you having a long day, you are also body conscious now, but somewhere on the inside, you are also slightly proud of yourself when you look at the graph you have taken as a person. Makes your feel empowered.

Overall, it is a positive trend in my opinion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt but lacks the formal structure required for an IELTS essay. While you identify the trend as positive, the explanation is highly subjective and anecdotal, focusing almost exclusively on personal nostalgia rather than the broader societal implications of the behavior described in the prompt (visiting places without actually looking at them). The prompt asks why this is happening, but you do not explore the underlying reasons, such as social media validation or the 'fear of missing out' (FOMO). To improve, ensure you address all parts of the question with balanced, objective arguments rather than relying solely on personal narrative.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay lacks a clear introduction and conclusion, and the paragraphing is fragmented. Many sentences are short and choppy, which disrupts the flow of ideas. While there is a logical progression in your personal story, the transition between the 'why' and the 'positive/negative' aspect is weak. You rely on rhetorical questions like 'Isn't this what we call as Nostalgia?' which is more characteristic of a blog post than an academic essay. Using more formal cohesive devices (e.g., 'Furthermore,' 'Consequently,' 'On the other hand') would help connect your ideas more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

Your vocabulary is generally clear but lacks the range and precision expected for a higher band score. You use informal phrasing such as 'Oh my god' and 'go ahead,' which are not appropriate for an IELTS task. While you use some descriptive language like 'teary-eyed' and 'empowered,' the overall lexical range is limited. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more academic collocations and avoid conversational fillers. Focus on using precise terminology related to the topic, such as 'digital documentation,' 'social media influence,' or 'aesthetic experience.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'I am currently living in Canada since a couple of years' should be 'I have been living in Canada for a couple of years.' Additionally, 'the graph you have taken as a person' is an awkward collocation and grammatically unclear. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentence fragments used for effect. To improve, focus on mastering verb tenses, particularly the present perfect, and ensure that your sentence structures are grammatically complete.

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