Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

For the past few decades, a growing number of individuals have visited renowned places to take photos of themselves overlooking the place. While this trend can allow visitors to create memories. I believe this is largely a negative trend that not only curtails the value of tourist attractions but also results in overcrowding at a particular place.

One contributing reason is that taking photographs without looking at the site can reduce its value. This approach leads to devaluation to public property because neglecting the value of a tourist site can drop its overall positive experience. To exemplify, a large number of people gather at the Taj Mahal, in India simply to take selfies without exploring its area. Although capturing moments enables them to create memories of themselves, they often miss the opportunities to explore the historical landmarks. Consequently, an increasing number of visitors take photographs overlooking its value.

Another significant factor is that gatherings of people at the tourist attractions can culminate in overcrowding. The trend is a negative development because a large number of individuals prepare to take photos instead of exploring well-known sites. A case in point is that, in India the majority of people only visit Ajanta Caves particularly to take pictures of themselves, which causes overpopulation at a historical place. In addition, if more and more people gather at renowned places it will severely contribute to traffic congestion on main roads. As a result, it is apparent that individuals visit popular sites to take photographs without exploring the tourist place.

In conclusion, even though visitors who take photographs are increasing these days without fully exploring the renowned tourist destinations, I firmly believe this approach enables tourists to create unforgettable experiences. This trend can have adverse affects on their overall visiting experience as it limits the value of tourist attractions and causes overcrowding.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and whether it is positive or negative. The position is clear throughout, although there is a slight contradiction in the conclusion where you state the trend 'enables tourists to create unforgettable experiences' despite arguing it is negative. The ideas are relevant, such as the devaluation of sites and overcrowding, but they could be developed with more nuance. For example, the link between taking photos and traffic congestion is a bit tenuous and lacks a clear logical bridge. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'To exemplify,' 'Another significant factor,' and 'Consequently' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'well-known places' or 'tourist attractions.' The progression of ideas is generally smooth, though the final paragraph contains a slight logical inconsistency regarding your stance on the trend.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'renowned,' 'culminate,' 'adverse,' and 'devaluation.' There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'devaluation to public property' (should be 'of') and 'overpopulation at a historical place' (overcrowding is more precise for tourists). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the repetition of phrases like 'take photos of themselves' and 'without looking at the place' limits the lexical variety. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'adverse affects' (should be 'effects') and 'overlooking the place' (which is slightly ambiguous in this context). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'This approach leads to devaluation to public property because neglecting the value of a tourist site can drop its overall positive experience.' While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure consistent control over prepositions and word forms.

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.