Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In this 21st century, plethora of individuals are going out and they decide the places which are familiar and they often go with their family members as well as friends. People always like to click photographs of themselves at that particular places, so I think this is the positive development. The essay will demonstrates why it is a positive development.

In the first paragraph, I will point out some positives behind this situation. Firstly, I think photographs is the best things to remember individual's memorable moment which they had with their family members or friends. In this technological era, humans capture their beautiful moments in their smartphones and upload it into social media platforms. As an epitome, recently I visited one of my friend's house and I met his grandparents and we discussed about their beautiful moments when they were young and suddenly they showed me their photographs when the first time they were visited a historic place. So, I think take a pictures of the good moment will become lifetime memory.

Conversely, one most not ignore the bad side of taking photographs at eminent places is that individuals only spend time to take pictures, not enjoy their moment because of the taking pictures they go unnamed places which they never know and that place will become dangerous in their life. I think people have to choose the places which are always safe to themselves.

To conclude, to take photographs is a good thing at a safe places and it will make memory for their whole life so I think it is positive development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for the trend and expressing a clear position. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention that taking photos creates memories, the explanation for why people prioritize photos over experiencing the location is underdeveloped. The argument regarding the 'bad side' is somewhat confusing, as it shifts focus to safety concerns rather than the psychological impact of prioritizing photography over presence. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a deeper analysis of the 'why' and 'positive/negative' aspects, rather than just stating them. The conclusion is also quite brief and repeats the introduction rather than synthesizing the main points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'As an epitome' is an incorrect collocation for 'For example' or 'As an illustration'. The transition between the positive and negative aspects is abrupt. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the third paragraph where the connection between 'unnamed places' and 'dangerous' is not logically explained. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows logically from the previous one would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'plethora of individuals' (which is slightly misused here), 'take a pictures', and 'one most not ignore'. You rely on basic vocabulary and struggle with collocations. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary in context and ensure that your word forms (e.g., singular/plural agreement) are accurate. Avoid overusing simple phrases like 'good thing' or 'beautiful moments'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The essay will demonstrates'), article usage (e.g., 'at that particular places'), and tense consistency. There are also errors in sentence construction, such as 'because of the taking pictures they go unnamed places'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of basic English grammar rules, particularly regarding plurals and prepositions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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