Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Nowadays, more and more people visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the places that they are visiting. I believe this majorly caused by social media and this is a negative development In this essay I will explain the points of why it is happening and give some solutions for it.

One major reason why it is so popular is that most of the population is influenced by social media, also increasing the popularity of online platforms. In this modern world, people click the pictures to share themselves with their friends, increase the followers, and show that they are visiting famous destinations. For example, a person visiting the Taj Mahal spends more time taking selfies and photographs than experiencing the beauty of the nature.

I believe this is a negative trend because people may fail to realize the value and history of the places. In addition, famous places have historical beliefs and natural importance, which visitors learn many things from observing. However, if they only take the pictures and capture the videos, they only remember the images and do not experience the beauty itself. Furthermore, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors and create crowded conditions at popular attractions.

On the other hand, taking pictures is not completely negative Photographs can help people keep memories of their trips and share information about interesting destinations with others. They can also encourage other people to visit these places.

In conclusion, the main reason for taking photographs of famous places is to get more likes and comments and a huge following. I believe it is a negative trend when people become more interested in taking selfies than appreciating the place itself.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for the trend and providing a clear stance on whether it is positive or negative. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention social media as a driver, you could have explored the psychological aspect of 'social validation' or 'FOMO' in greater depth to reach a higher band. Additionally, you mentioned providing 'solutions' in your introduction, but you did not actually include any solutions in the body paragraphs, which is a minor inconsistency in task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'However,' and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel a bit abrupt. For example, the paragraph discussing the 'other side' of the argument is quite brief and lacks a strong transition from the previous paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of linking words to connect your supporting points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'tourist attractions,' 'social validation,' and 'historical beliefs.' However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision required for higher bands. For example, you use the phrase 'take pictures' or 'taking photographs' multiple times. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms such as 'documenting experiences' or 'capturing moments.' There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choice is generally appropriate for the context, ensuring that your message is clearly communicated to the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are several grammatical slips that occur throughout the text. For example, in the first paragraph, you wrote 'I believe this majorly caused by,' which is missing the auxiliary verb 'is.' Additionally, there are some punctuation issues, such as missing periods between sentences (e.g., 'negative trend Photographs'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and sentence boundary punctuation will help improve your accuracy.

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