Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Nowadays, visiting famous tourist attractions has become increasingly popular among people of all ages. However, an increasing number of people visit these places mainly to take pictures of themselves rather than properly exploring them. This trend is mainly driven by the growing influence of social media and people's desire to impress others. I believe it is a negative development because it prevents people from fully enjoying and appreciating the places they visit.

There are several reasons why people are becoming more interested in taking photographs at famous places. The main reason is the popularity of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Many people want to share attractive pictures online and show their friends and followers that they have visited popular destinations. Another reason is the desire to gain attention and create an impressive online image. As a result, some tourists spend most of their time finding the perfect location, pose, and angle for photographs instead of learning about the place itself.

In my view, this is largely a negative trend. When people focus too much on taking pictures, they may fail to enjoy the actual experience of travelling. Famous attractions often have historical, cultural, or natural importance, and visitors can learn a great deal by exploring them carefully. Moreover, constantly using phones and cameras can reduce people's connection with their surroundings. For example, a person visiting Niagara Falls may spend most of the visit taking selfies and recording videos instead of enjoying the beauty and sound of the waterfalls. Therefore, although photographs are a good way to preserve memories, they should not become the main purpose of travelling.

In conclusion, the influence of social media and the desire to impress others are the main reasons why people increasingly visit famous places mainly to take photographs. I consider this a negative trend because people may miss valuable experiences and fail to appreciate the true importance and beauty of the places they visit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed both parts of the prompt. You clearly identified the reasons for the trend (social media influence and the desire for social validation) and provided a well-supported argument for why you consider this a negative development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the example of Niagara Falls, which effectively illustrates your point about the loss of authentic experience. The response is balanced and directly answers the question, meeting all requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However,' 'As a result,' 'Moreover,' and 'Therefore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The relationship between ideas is clear, and the structure is coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the topic. Phrases like 'growing influence,' 'impressive online image,' and 'preserve memories' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it stays within a relatively standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations related to the topic of tourism and digital culture, such as 'curated persona' or 'superficial engagement.' However, the current usage is precise and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'When people focus too much on taking pictures, they may fail to enjoy...' and 'Although photographs are a good way to preserve memories, they should not become...'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader, and your sentence variety demonstrates a good command of English syntax.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.