Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-01
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 5.5)
Nowadays many people go to famous places only for take photos. They do not see the place carefully. They take selfie and put pictures on social media. I think this is happening because many people want likes and show other people they visit famous places.
In my opinion, this is a negative trend. People spend more time with mobile phone and less time enjoying the place. They do not learn about history or culture. They only take many photos and leave. Sometimes they make crowd and disturb other visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 89 words long. Consequently, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. While the response addresses both parts of the prompt—explaining why people take photos and stating that it is a negative trend—the lack of length prevents the development of these points. To achieve a higher band, you must expand your arguments with specific examples, personal experiences, or deeper analysis to meet the required length and demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into two short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is limited due to the brevity of the text. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas together; for instance, the transition between the reasons for the trend and the opinion on whether it is negative is abrupt. To improve, you should use a wider range of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to create a smoother flow between your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'people', 'place', and 'take'. While the language is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There is no attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language, such as using 'monuments' or 'landmarks' instead of 'places'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response consists primarily of simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'only for take photos' (should be 'only to take photos') and 'make crowd' (should be 'create a crowd'). The lack of complex sentence structures limits the grammatical range. To improve, you should practice using a variety of sentence types, including complex and compound sentences, and pay closer attention to verb forms and article usage to reduce the frequency of errors.
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