Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 7.5)

In recent years it is famous for people to visit tourist attraction place for the purpose of taking pictures of themselves without looking at the place. In my opinion, this trend is largely caused by the influence of social media, and it is a negative development overall.

The main reason behind this phenomenon is the growing popularity of social networking platforms. People often feel the need to post attractive pictures of themselves at well-known landmarks in order to gain likes, comments, and followers. As a result, visiting famous destinations has become more about creating online content than enjoying the actual experience. In addition, smartphones with high-quality cameras have made it extremely easy to capture and share photos instantly, encouraging this behaviour even further.

I believe this trend has several negative consequences. Firstly, tourists who focus only on taking selfies often fail to learn about the historical, cultural, or environmental significance of the places they visit. For example, someone may spend hours taking pictures at a famous museum without paying attention to the exhibits inside. Secondly, the desire to get the perfect photograph can create overcrowding and disturb other visitors. In some cases, people even ignore safety rules or damage protected sites simply to take unique pictures, which can have long-term effects on these valuable attractions.

Admittedly, sharing travel photos online can encourage others to visit new destinations and may increase tourism, bringing economic benefits to local communities. However, these advantages are outweighed by the loss of meaningful travel experiences and the negative impact on popular tourist sites.

In conclusion, the increasing habit of visiting famous places mainly for selfies is driven by social media and modern technology. Although it may help promote tourism, I consider it a negative trend because it encourages superficial travel and reduces appreciation for the true value of these destinations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. You clearly identified the reasons for the trend (social media influence and smartphone technology) and provided a well-reasoned argument for why it is a negative development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on the loss of cultural significance and the impact on tourist sites. You also effectively acknowledged the counter-argument regarding economic benefits before refuting it, which demonstrates a high level of task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Admittedly'. These transitions help the reader follow your argument without difficulty. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the causes from the consequences and the counter-argument. The flow is natural and professional throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the topic. Phrases like 'historical, cultural, or environmental significance', 'superficial travel', and 'outweighed by' demonstrate a strong command of language. While there is a minor error in the opening sentence ('it is famous for people' should be 'it is common for people'), your word choice is generally precise and natural. You successfully avoid repetition and use topic-specific vocabulary effectively to convey your ideas clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although it may help promote tourism, I consider it a negative trend...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free. There is a minor grammatical slip in the first sentence ('tourist attraction place' should be 'tourist attractions'), but this does not impede communication. Your punctuation is accurate, and you maintain a consistent tense throughout the essay. The control over grammar is strong enough to support a high band score.

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