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 recent
In recent times a larger population travel to popular attractions unknowingly just for photos and post it on social media. This essay will discuss the negative reasons behind this trend along with my viewpoint.
One of the main reason why it is happening is due to insecurity and fear of missing out this is largely because of social status, photos act as proof of a glamorous lifestyle or high social status. Another contributing factor is the Smartphones make capturing and sharing photos immediate and effortless, further reinforcing this situation.
From my perspective this is a negative trend because people tend to follow for superficial engagement for media. Additionally, this could play a crucial role in defaming the place and might hurt sentiments of the community associated with the place. To add more, it also makes the places overcrowded popular selfie spots face heavy congestion, disrupting others.
In conclusion, this is happening because of digital status symbol and smartphones. At the same time harsh situations such as overcrowding and hurting religious sentiments may arise.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 175 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address both parts of the prompt—explaining the reasons for the trend and providing a clear negative stance—the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the point about 'defaming the place' is mentioned but not supported with specific examples or logical expansion. To achieve a higher band, you must elaborate on your points with detailed explanations and concrete examples to ensure the response is fully developed rather than just a summary of ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'Another contributing factor' and 'To add more' are functional but repetitive. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is clear, but the overall flow feels abrupt due to the brevity of the sections. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to the main prompt more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'social status', 'glamorous lifestyle', and 'congestion', which are appropriate. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'follow for superficial engagement' and 'unknowingly just for photos'. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and academic vocabulary. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate less common lexical items that demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of the topic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'One of the main reason why it is happening is due to...' should be 'reasons', and 'Smartphones make capturing and sharing photos immediate and effortless' is missing a subject or needs rephrasing. Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as run-on sentences in the second paragraph. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over complex sentence structures and ensure that subject-verb agreement and punctuation are accurate throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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