Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
Nowadays, an increasing number of people visit famous landmarks mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the places. This trend is largely caused by social media and the desire to share experiences online. Although it has some benefits, I believe it is mostly a negative development.
One major reason for this behaviour is the influence of social networking platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. People often feel that posting attractive photographs from famous destinations can improve their online image and gain attention from others. As a result, taking a perfect selfie can become more important than actually experiencing the location. In addition, modern smartphones and inexpensive cameras make it extremely easy to take and share high-quality photographs instantly. For example, tourists at popular landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower may spend more time finding the best angle for a selfie than learning about the monument's history.
There are some positive aspects to this trend. Photographs can help people preserve memories of their journeys and encourage others to discover interesting destinations. They can also promote tourism and benefit local businesses. However, I believe the disadvantages are greater. Focusing too much on photography can prevent people from appreciating the culture, history and natural beauty of the places they visit. It may also lead to overcrowding when visitors are primarily interested in taking the same popular photographs.
In conclusion, social media and easy access to technology are the main reasons for this trend. While taking photographs can preserve memories and promote tourism, I consider it negative because people may miss the genuine experience of visiting remarkable places.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified the reasons for the trend (social media, validation, and technology) and provided a clear position that it is a negative development. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the explanation of how the desire for an 'online image' outweighs the actual experience of a location. The arguments are balanced by acknowledging the benefits of photography before refuting them, which demonstrates a good level of critical thinking. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, nuanced examples or explore the long-term societal implications of this trend in greater depth.
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 'In addition', 'For example', and 'However', which help guide the reader through your argument. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the structure of an IELTS essay. The flow is natural and the relationship between ideas is consistently easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'appreciate the places', 'online image', and 'genuine experience' are used accurately. You also incorporate some less common collocations such as 'overcrowding' and 'monument's history'. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys meaning clearly, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more idiomatic expressions or precise academic synonyms to elevate the tone of the writing further.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The writing displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If... it may also lead to...' and the concessive clause 'While taking photographs can...'. The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are generally error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent. The writing is highly readable, and the few minor slips do not impede communication in any way.
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.