Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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, more and more people visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the places they have travelled to. Although taking photographs can help people preserve memories, I believe that focusing too much on selfies can reduce the value of the travel experience.

One major reason for this trend is the growing influence of social media. People often feel that sharing attractive photographs online allows them to show their friends where they have been and gain attention from others. In addition, modern smartphones make it extremely easy to take and immediately upload high-quality pictures. As a result, some tourists become more concerned about getting the perfect photograph than actually experiencing their surroundings.

However, this behaviour can have negative consequences. Firstly, constantly taking pictures may prevent people from appreciating the history, culture and natural beauty of a destination. For example, a person visiting a historic monument may spend most of the time finding the best angle for a selfie instead of learning about its significance. Secondly, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors and even damage sensitive tourist sites when people ignore safety rules in order to get a better picture.

In my opinion, taking photographs is a normal and enjoyable part of travelling, but it should not become the main purpose of a visit. Tourists should try to balance capturing memories with experiencing the destination itself. By putting their phones away occasionally and observing their surroundings, they can gain a deeper understanding of the place and create more meaningful memories.

In conclusion, social media and smartphones have encouraged people to prioritise photographs over genuine experiences. While photography has its benefits, tourists should ensure that it complements, rather than replaces, their enjoyment of a destination.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. You clearly identified the reasons for the trend—specifically the influence of social media and the convenience of modern technology—and provided a balanced, well-reasoned argument regarding its negative impact. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and your ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of tourists ignoring safety rules or failing to learn about the significance of historic monuments. The response is well-structured and directly answers both the 'why' and the 'positive/negative' components of the task, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction, moving to the causes, then the consequences, and finally a balanced conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition,' 'As a result,' 'Firstly,' and 'In conclusion,' which help the reader follow your argument without difficulty. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the text. The flow between sentences is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the topic. Phrases like 'growing influence,' 'sensitive tourist sites,' and 'complements, rather than replaces' show a level of precision and stylistic awareness. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat standard. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations related to tourism and digital behavior. However, your word choice is consistently natural, and there are no errors that impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions effectively, such as in the sentence 'Although taking photographs can help people preserve memories, I believe that focusing too much on selfies can reduce the value of the travel experience.' The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, or punctuation. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over complex structures is consistent. This level of accuracy and variety is indicative of a strong command of English grammar.

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