Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04

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 6.5)

In recent years ,it has become increasingly common for tourists to visit famous landmarks primarily to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the place they have travelled to see.This phenomenon is largely driven by the influence of social media and desire for online recognition .In my opinion ,although this trend has a few advantages, its negative consequence outweigh the benefits .

The main reason behind this behaviour is the rapid growth of social media platforms ,where people often feel pressured to share attractive travel photos .Many individuals are more concerned about collecting likes and gaining followers than experience the culture ,history ,or natural beauty of destinations .As a result some tourists spend more time searching for the perfect camera angle than learning about the significance of the place they are visiting.

Despite allowing people to preserve memories and inspire others to travel ,this trend is largely negative.First ,it encourages superficial travel experience ,where visitors focus on appearance instead of meaningful engagement and local traditions and heritage .Secondly ,the obsession with taking photographs can create overcrowding at popular viewpoints ,disturb other visitors ,and even damage historical or environmentally sensitive sites,For example ,at many world famous attractions ,tourists queue for long periods merely to capture the perfect selfie before immediately moving on.

In conclusion ,the popularity of social media and the pursuit of online approval have transformed the way many people travel. Although photographs are valuable souvenirs ,travelling should be about discovering new cultures ,appreciating historical landmarks ,and creating lasting memories rather than simply producing content for social media

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the phenomenon and a well-supported opinion on whether it is a positive or negative trend. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, particularly the discussion on the impact of social media and the consequences of superficial tourism. To reach a higher band, you could further develop your examples; for instance, instead of just mentioning 'world famous attractions,' you could briefly specify a type of location or a specific consequence to add more depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'The main reason behind this behaviour,' 'Despite allowing,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the causes from the effects. To improve, ensure that your punctuation around these devices is consistent, as there are minor issues with spacing after commas and periods throughout the text, which occasionally makes the flow feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision, using terms like 'phenomenon,' 'superficial travel experience,' and 'environmentally sensitive sites.' There is an awareness of collocation, though some minor errors exist, such as 'experience the culture' instead of 'experiencing the culture.' While the vocabulary is adequate and allows for clear communication, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions would elevate the lexical score. The current range is functional and appropriate for the task but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional-style opening and the use of participial phrases. However, there are frequent minor errors in punctuation, specifically missing spaces after commas and periods (e.g., 'years ,it', 'see.This', 'sites,For'). Additionally, there are small grammatical slips like 'consequence outweigh' (should be 'consequences outweigh') and 'than experience' (should be 'than experiencing'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic punctuation and subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.

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