Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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 7.5)

In recent days, more and more visitors have started travelling to iconic destinations merely to capture photographs of themselves, without showing genuine interest in the cultural heritage of the country they are visiting. This essay will explore the main reasons behind this growing phenomenon.

Firstly, the influence of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp plays a crucial role in shaping this behaviour. People nowadays are increasingly addicted to seeking validation from others in a superficial manner. For instance, instead of immersing themselves in the experience, they are more focused on gaining likes, comments, and followers. They live in an artificial world, making enormous efforts to prove their financial status and portray an image of happiness and satisfaction, even if it does not reflect reality. This obsession with appearance over substance often prevents them from broadening their horizons and truly enjoying the moment.

Secondly, the marketing strategies of travel agencies also contribute to this trend. These agencies prioritize visual appeal, promoting highly edited and enhanced images of destinations through Photoshop, often without highlighting the cultural or historical importance of the places. Consequently, individuals begin to see travel merely as an opportunity to take aesthetically pleasing photos, rather than a chance to gain knowledge or experience new perspectives. Moreover, such practices diminish the authenticity of the experience and lead people to form shallow impressions of the places they visit.

In conclusion, we must become more conscious of the true meaning of travel. Visiting a new country should not only be about photography but also about discovering its culture and connecting with its people. Ultimately, travel is one of the best ways to expand our knowledge, challenge our worldview, and develop meaningful communication across cultures.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt effectively. You identified two clear reasons for the trend—social media validation and travel marketing—and provided a clear stance that this is a negative development. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of Instagram and Photoshop. To reach a higher band, you could have explicitly stated your position on whether it is a positive or negative trend in the introduction, rather than waiting until the conclusion. While your arguments are logical, adding a brief counter-argument or a more nuanced perspective on how photography can sometimes enhance travel could further demonstrate the depth of analysis required for a Band 8 or 9.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall flow. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is even smoother; some sentences feel slightly independent. Using a wider variety of referencing pronouns or more sophisticated linking phrases could help move your writing from a clear, logical structure to one that is more fluid and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'cultural heritage', 'superficial manner', 'aesthetically pleasing', and 'broadening their horizons' show a strong command of language. There is a good awareness of collocation and style. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise, less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that sound natural in an academic context. For example, instead of 'making enormous efforts', you could use 'striving to curate'. Overall, your vocabulary is precise and effectively conveys your meaning without any errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'even if it does not reflect reality' and 'instead of immersing themselves in the experience'. The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. To reach the highest bands, ensure that you vary your sentence length and structure even more to create a more sophisticated rhythm. The current control is very good, and the majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a hallmark of a high-scoring response.

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