Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-31
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 8.5)
In recent years, it has become increasingly common for people to visit well-Known places mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than appreciate the sites. I believe this phenomenon is largely driven by social media and overall, it is a negative trend.
One of the main reasons for this behavior is the growing influence of social networking platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Many people want to share attractive photos online in order to gain likes, comments, and recognition from others. As a result, they focus more on capturing the perfect selfie than on learning about the history, culture, or significance of the place they are visiting. In addition, modern smartphones have made photography easier than ever, encouraging tourists to spend much of their time taking pictures.
Although taking photographs can help preserve memories, I believe the overall impact of this trend is negative. Firstly, people may miss the opportunity to fully experience and enjoy the destination. Instead of appreciating the scenery, architecture, or local culture, they become preoccupied with their online image. Secondly, excessive photography can disturb other visitors and create overcrowding at popular photo spots. For example, at famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, tourists often spend a considerable amount of time taking selfies, which can inconvenience others who wish to enjoy the attraction peacefully.
In conclusion, the desire to share experiences on social media is the primary reason why many tourists focus on taking photographs rather than appreciating famous places. While photography has some benefits, I believe this trend is largely negative because it reduces genuine travel experiences and can negatively affect other visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify social media and the ease of smartphone photography as the primary drivers for this trend. Your position that this is a negative trend is consistent and well-supported throughout the essay. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of the Eiffel Tower, which adds depth to your argument. The response is balanced, acknowledging the role of photography in preserving memories before explaining why the current trend is detrimental. You have met all requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Although', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow of information is natural and easy to follow, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for this topic. Phrases like 'preoccupied with their online image', 'genuine travel experiences', and 'growing influence' show a level of precision. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'attractive photos', you could use 'aesthetically pleasing images'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices are consistently natural and appropriate for an IELTS essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions like 'although' and 'because' effectively to link ideas. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of advanced structures, such as inversion or more complex conditional sentences, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your writing.
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