Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-13
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 commonly seen that masses explore distinct renowned tourist attractions to take pictures of themselves rather than to appreciate the splendid beauty of it. There are numerous reasons for this trend. According to me it is both positive and negative development.
To embark with, One major reason for this behaviour is the influence of social media. To explain, several individuals feel the need of documentation their experience in order to get validation and attention. As a result, taking photographs become priority than enjoying the moment. Furthermore, the revolution in smart phones. These days high definition pictures can be taken with the smart phones and people can share it instantly on social media without any hurdles. Thus, folks focus more on creating appealing visualized content rather than observing the surrounding.
This trend considered as adverse as it reluctant the value of travel. When people are preoccupied with taking the perfect picture, they may miss the cultural, historical, or natural significance of the place they are visiting.This leads to superficial experiences and a lack of genuine connection with the destination.
However, there are also some positive aspects. Photography can inspire people to travel more, promote tourism, and help individuals capture memories that they can look back on. For some, taking photos is a form of creativity and self‑expression, which can enhance their travel experience.
In conclusion, the trend of visiting famous places mainly to take photographs is driven by social media influence and modern technology. While it has some benefits, I believe it is largely a negative development because it reduces the depth and meaning of travel experiences.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and the evaluation of whether it is positive or negative. The ideas are relevant, such as the influence of social media and the desire for validation. However, the development is somewhat brief. While the position is clear, the arguments could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on the 'negative' aspect is a bit generic. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'To embark with', 'Furthermore', 'Thus', and 'However' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or unnatural, such as 'To embark with' (which is non-standard) and 'This trend considered as adverse as it reluctant the value of travel'. Improving the variety and naturalness of these links would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common items like 'validation', 'preoccupied', and 'superficial'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'masses explore' (should be 'many people'), 'documentation their experience' (should be 'documenting'), and 'reluctant the value' (should be 'diminishes the value'). These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the score. A wider range of precise vocabulary would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it has commonly seen' (passive voice error), 'taking photographs become priority' (subject-verb agreement), and 'the revolution in smart phones' (fragment). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor slips throughout. While the meaning is always clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to verb forms and sentence construction is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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