Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08

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)

In recent years, an increasing number of tourists travel to famous landmarks solely to capture personal photographs, often barely acknowledging the destination itself. This phenomenon is primarily driven by the pervasive influence of social media and the cultural shift toward digital self-presentation. While this behavior offers individuals temporary social validation, I firmly believe it is a negative development, as it degrades the quality of travel experiences and causes harm to the destinations themselves.

The dominant cause of this trend is the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which reward users with instant approval through "likes" and views. For many, a trip is no longer about exploration, but about acquiring visual content that signals status, aesthetic taste, or a desirable lifestyle. Consequently, tourists prioritize staging the perfect photo or "selfie" over engaging with the culture or history around them. A person visiting the Taj Mahal, for instance, might spend hours capturing the ideal lighting for a personal photo rather than reflecting on its architectural heritage or historic significance.

From my perspective, this trend is overwhelmingly negative for two key reasons. First, it diminishes the personal value of travel. True travel fosters cultural understanding, mindfulness, and personal reflection. When visitors focus entirely on their screens, they miss out on immersive experiences, reducing rich, historic sites to mere backdrops for vanity. Second, this behavior often creates severe real-world problems for local destinations. Mass crowds gathering exclusively at iconic camera angles lead to overtourism, foot-traffic congestion, and physical damage to delicate environments. Moreover, local communities often suffer from increased noise pollution and disruptive behavior from individuals attempting to film content for online attention.

In conclusion, the practice of visiting famous places purely for self-directed photography is fueled by the desire for online validation. I view this as a detrimental trend because it strips travel of its deeper educational and personal significance while placing unnecessary strain on famous landmarks and local communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You clearly identify the causes of the trend—social media influence and the desire for digital validation—and provide a well-supported argument for why this is a negative development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between genuine travel and the performative nature of modern tourism. The example of the Taj Mahal effectively illustrates your point, and the discussion of the environmental and social impacts of overtourism adds depth to your argument. The response is balanced, logical, and directly answers both components of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the causes to the negative consequences. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Consequently,' 'From my perspective,' and 'Moreover,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is professional and contributes to the overall clarity of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'pervasive influence,' 'digital self-presentation,' 'temporary social validation,' and 'architectural heritage' are used with precision and natural collocation. You successfully avoid repetition and use academic-style language that is appropriate for the task. There are no noticeable errors in word choice, and your ability to use less common lexical items—such as 'detrimental' and 'immersive'—shows a high level of control and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'While this behavior offers individuals temporary social validation, I firmly believe it is a negative development,' which demonstrates good control over subordinating conjunctions. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few complex structures you employ are handled with confidence. There is a consistent level of grammatical control throughout the response, with no errors that impede communication.

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