Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18
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 this modern era, clicking pictures and making videos are in trend. Lots of people visit famous places to take photographs of themselves, without looking at the place. Because Nowadays people love to visit more and more places. They like to click pictures and post on social media. Furthermore, it is a negative trend which people love to do.
One main reason why the trend of visiting places without looking is very popular and I think in recent years, the use of social media is increasing day by day. They watch scenic places videos on reels and any YouTube then decide to visit that type of place without searching about that place. To cite an example, nowadays it can be seen that on social media, there are numerous videos people post and they talk about a difference between reel and reality. Which clearly explains this situation.
Moreover, this is a negative trend as it leads to superficiality. There are many reasons behind this statement as a major reason is waste of money. We can see people who visit places without making any plan and just watching that type of place on social media. For instance, a large number of people visit a place without thinking about finances. If they help needy people through this money so it is very good deed.
To conclude, in recent years visiting popular places to click their pictures, without looking at the place in addition it is negative trend. These issues should be considered carefully due to their impact on individuals and society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the trend and whether it is positive or negative. However, the development of ideas is limited. The explanation for why people visit places without looking is somewhat repetitive, focusing primarily on social media influence. The argument regarding the negative nature of the trend is underdeveloped; the point about 'wasting money' and suggesting that money should be given to 'needy people' is a bit tangential and lacks a strong logical connection to the act of taking photographs. To improve, you should provide more nuanced reasons and clearer, more direct justifications for your position.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward, such as starting sentences with 'Which clearly explains this situation' or 'In addition it is negative trend.' The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the conclusion, which feels rushed and grammatically incomplete. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on simple phrases like 'clicking pictures,' 'visit more and more places,' and 'good deed.' There are some instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'watching that type of place on social media.' To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to tourism, digital culture, and social behavior, and ensure that your collocations are natural and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'They watch scenic places videos on reels and any YouTube then decide to visit that type of place' is structurally weak. There are also issues with article usage, subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'Which clearly explains this situation'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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