Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
It is evident that taking photographs at renowned places without considering the actual spot is becoming increasingly prevalent among many people in this modern world .This essay will examine the principal causes associated with this trend and its pessimistic repercussions in upcoming paragraphs.
To begin with, the growing popularity of social media platforms is one of the significant reasons of this phenomenon. To elaborate on this , many individuals visit the well - known tourist attractions with the solo intention of taking pictures to upload on online websites to secure more likes, comments and followers.
Therefore, their main aim is to upgrade their social status. Moreover, the widespread use of smartphones is the another factor contributing to this shift.Having high-quality devices assists the individuals in collecting pictures conveniently and instantly. As a result, their main focus is on capturing and uploading photos on the internet rather than focusing on the actual place they are visiting.
However, I believe this is a negative development because it obscures people from gaining knowledge about the history and culture of the landmark they visit. Instead of exploring the actual spot and its panoramic views masses are more concerned in taking selfies and creating attractive posts for social media accounts.Aggravating this pattern, it creates hurdles for those who actually come to spend quality time at that particular spot.To exemplify, there are some people who still visit to learn about the place and love to enjoy the views but they are hindered by the avid photographers as they are always busy in capturing everything into camera so they block the ways for others which sometimes seems frustrating.Consequently, it reduces the overall value of travelling.
To conclude, the popularity of social media and modern technology has made people increasingly interested in photographing themselves at tourist attractions. Nevertheless, I consider this a negative tendency as it may prevent them from fully experiencing and appreciating these destinations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the trend (social media validation and smartphone technology) and a firm stance on it being a negative development. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on how this behavior impacts the experience of other tourists. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced examples or explore the psychological motivations behind this behavior in greater depth to further develop the argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the causes from the effects. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas from the causes of the trend to its negative consequences is logical and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision, such as 'prevalent', 'renowned', 'obscures', and 'panoramic views'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'pessimistic repercussions' (where 'negative consequences' would be more natural) and 'the another factor' (which is grammatically incorrect). The student demonstrates an ability to use topic-specific vocabulary related to tourism and technology. To improve, the student should focus on more natural collocations and avoid slightly awkward phrasing to achieve a more sophisticated tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are several error-free sentences, there are persistent minor errors, such as 'the another factor' and 'the individuals' (unnecessary article). Punctuation is generally good, though there are occasional spacing issues before periods. The grammatical control is sufficient to communicate ideas clearly without impeding the reader. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more complex sentence variety and ensure greater accuracy in article usage and subject-verb agreement.
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