Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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)

Nowadays, most people visit famous places mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the history, culture, and beauty of these places. This trend has become increasingly common due to the widespread use of social media. Although taking photos can encourage people to travel, I believe this is a largely negative development.

One of the main reasons for this trend is the growing influence of social media platforms. Many people enjoy sharing pictures of themselves at popular destinations to gain attention, likes, and followers. As a result, visiting famous places becomes more attractive online image than enjoying the experience. In addition, Modern smartphones make it easier to upload high-quality pictures instantly, encouraging people to focus on capturing the perfect selfie from different angles instead of exploring the place itself.

In my opinion, this is mainly a negative trend. Firstly, people are taking photographs constantly and often miss the opportunity to learn about the history, architecture, and cultural significance of these places. Secondly, this behaviour can negatively impact other visitors. For example, crowded tourist destinations often become filled with people blocking pathways or waiting in a long queue just to take pictures, making the visit less enjoyable for everyone.

In conclusion, the increasing popularity of social media has encouraged many people to visit famous places mainly for photographs instead the meaningful experience. Although photos are the natural part of travelling, I believe this trend is more harmful than beneficial due to the fact that it reduces genuine appreciation of culture and historic sites.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and the evaluation of whether it is positive or negative. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. The ideas are relevant, such as the influence of social media and the impact on other tourists. However, the development of these points is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could expand on the 'why' by discussing the psychological need for social validation or provide more detailed examples of how this behaviour detracts from the cultural experience. Overall, the task is fully addressed, but the depth of analysis is limited.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion' effectively to link your points. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more varied. For instance, in the second paragraph, the phrase 'visiting famous places becomes more attractive online image' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Improving the sophistication of your linking phrases would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'cultural significance', 'widespread use', and 'meaningful experience' are used appropriately. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'visiting famous places becomes more attractive online image' (should be 'becomes more about the online image') and 'photos are the natural part of travelling' (should be 'a natural part'). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. Expanding your repertoire of topic-specific collocations would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear, and your meaning is rarely impeded by errors. However, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'instead the meaningful experience' (missing 'of') and 'this behaviour can negatively impact' (which is correct, but the surrounding sentence structure is slightly clunky). You have good control over basic grammar, but to reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater precision and fewer minor errors.

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

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