Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 6.5)

A lot of people like to take selfies at popular tourist spots without enjoying the beauty or serenity of the place. I think the major reason is social media as people click these photos to share on social media and in my opinion this is a negative trend for various reasons, which I would like to highlight in this essay.

Firstly, I will like to start with some negative impacts of people taking photos without actually looking at the place. Instead of spending time at the spot, they are busy taking photographs and videos. Same can be seen, when certain individuals visit restaurants. Rather than enjoying the food, you can observe them clicking photographs. One of the reasons for this trend is social media, as people mostly click to share on these platforms rather than making precious memories. Another negative impact of this could be when people watch photos of their friends or family members at famous tourist destinations, popular cafes and restaurants, that can make them feel envious and jealous. Sometimes, they can also feel inferior and then they feel pressured into visiting such places, even if they did not intend to visit them in the first place.

However, I will also like to share some positive impacts of social media and photos shared on these platforms. I think that can help others to know about a lot of places without even visiting the place. They can decide by looking at the images, if the place is of interest to them or not. The photos can also help them to plan their trip wisely.

In conclusion, I would like to say that while there are a lot of negative impacts of people taking photographs of themselves at places without enjoying the spot, there also can be some positive impacts, if people decide to do it for the right reasons and if people are actually enjoying their time at such places.

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 from the introduction. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention social media as a reason, the explanation could be more nuanced by discussing the 'fear of missing out' or the validation-seeking nature of modern digital culture. The discussion on the positive impacts is also quite brief compared to the negative ones. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported with more detailed reasoning or specific, illustrative examples rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the negative impacts and the positive impacts is functional but could be more sophisticated. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You use some relevant terms like 'tourist spots', 'serenity', and 'envious'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a tendency to repeat words like 'people', 'places', and 'photos'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms or collocations, such as 'scenic locations', 'digital validation', or 'aesthetic appeal'. While the current vocabulary is adequate to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear, and communication is not impeded by the errors present. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I will like to start' (should be 'I would like to start') and 'watch photos' (should be 'look at photos'). Punctuation is generally correct, though some sentences could be refined for better flow. To achieve a higher score, aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures and ensure that minor errors are minimized through careful proofreading.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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