Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people travel to famous tourist destinations mainly to take pictures of themselves rather than genuinely appreciating the location. In my opinion, this trend is occurring due to the rise of social media, and I believe it is largely a negative development.

One reason why this trend has become so common is the growing influence of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Many people feel a strong desire to share their travel experiences online and receive attention from others in the form of likes and comments. As a result, taking a photograph becomes more important than actually experiencing the place itself. For example, tourists often spend more time finding the perfect angle for a picture than learning about the history or culture of the site they are visiting. This suggests that the purpose of travelling has shifted from personal enjoyment to online validation.

This trend can be considered largely negative because it prevents people from having a meaningful experience. When visitors focus only on capturing images, they often fail to notice the details, atmosphere, and significance of the place. For instance, someone visiting a historical monument might take dozens of photographs without ever learning about its background or importance. Consequently, the trip becomes a superficial activity rather than an enriching one, and the traveller gains little real knowledge or memory of the experience.

In conclusion, I believe that this behaviour is mainly driven by the desire for social media attention, and it is a negative trend because it reduces the quality and meaning of travel experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: explaining the reasons for the trend (social media influence and the desire for validation) and providing a clear opinion on its negative nature. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the comparison between finding the 'perfect angle' and learning about the history of a site. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the arguments are logical and focused. The response meets all requirements of the task effectively, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt and providing a balanced, well-structured argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence that is well-supported. Cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'For example', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link ideas and sentences. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the cause of the trend to its negative implications. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is coherent, making the writer's argument easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for the context. The student uses a range of topic-specific language such as 'genuinely appreciating', 'social media platforms', 'online validation', and 'superficial activity'. The word choices are natural and contribute to the clarity of the argument. While the range is sufficient and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band, but it is certainly strong enough for a high score. There are no spelling or collocation errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures. The writer uses a variety of grammatical forms, including conditional structures and subordinate clauses, such as 'When visitors focus only on capturing images, they often fail to notice...' and '...the trip becomes a superficial activity rather than an enriching one'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is accurate. The control over grammar is consistent, and the few minor slips that might occur do not affect the clarity or flow of the writing.

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