Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06
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 6.0)
Nowadays, many people visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than appreciating the beauty, history, or culture of the places they visit. This essay will discuss the reasons behind this trend and explain why I believe it is largely a negative development.
One of the main reasons for this behavior is the growing influence of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Many people feel pressure to post attractive travel photos in order to gain likes, followers, and social approval. As a result, they often focus more on capturing the perfect picture than on enjoying the destination itself. Another reason is the fear of missing out. Seeing friends and influencers visit famous landmarks encourages to do the same simply to keep up with current trends.
In my opinion, this is a negative development for several reasons. Firstly, people miss the true purposes of travelling, which is to experience different cultures, admire historical sites, and create meaningful memories. When tourists are constantly occupied with taking selfies, they fail to appreciate the significance and uniqueness of the places they visit. Secondly, this behavior can disturb other visitors. For example,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying social media pressure and the fear of missing out as reasons, and arguing that the trend is negative. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the depth of the arguments. The conclusion is missing, and the final paragraph is cut off mid-sentence. Because the task is incomplete and fails to meet the length requirement, the development of ideas is insufficient to reach a higher band. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full introduction, two or three well-developed body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion, while meeting the word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay shows a clear logical progression in the paragraphs that are present. You use cohesive devices such as 'One of the main reasons', 'As a result', and 'Firstly' to link ideas effectively. However, the abrupt ending of the text disrupts the overall coherence of the piece. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the reasons from the opinion. To improve, ensure that your essay structure is complete and that you use a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and paragraphs more fluidly, rather than relying on simple transition words.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the topic, with terms like 'tourist attractions', 'social approval', and 'significance'. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language, which is good. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are no examples of sophisticated or less common lexical items. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more flexible command of the English language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is generally accurate, and your sentences are easy to follow. You use a mix of simple and complex structures, such as 'Many people feel pressure to post... in order to gain likes'. There is a minor error in the sentence 'encourages to do the same', which should be 'encourages them to do the same'. While the grammar is mostly error-free, the range of complex structures is limited. To improve, focus on integrating more varied sentence patterns, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, and ensure that your sentence construction remains grammatically sound throughout the entire essay.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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