Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29

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 8.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of tourists travel to famous landmarks solely to capture personal photographs, often barely acknowledging the destination itself. This phenomenon is primarily driven by the pervasive influence of social media and the cultural shift toward digital self-presentation. While this behavior offers individuals temporary social validation, I firmly believe it is a negative development, as it degrades the quality of travel experiences and causes harm to the destinations themselves.

The dominant cause of this trend is the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which reward users with instant approval through "likes" and views. For many, a trip is no longer about exploration, but about acquiring visual content that signals status, aesthetic taste, or a desirable lifestyle. Consequently, tourists prioritize staging the perfect photo or "selfie" over engaging with the culture or history around them. A person visiting the Taj Mahal, for instance, might spend hours capturing the ideal lighting for a personal photo rather than reflecting on its architectural heritage or historic significance.

From my perspective, this trend is overwhelmingly negative for two key reasons. First, it diminishes the personal value of travel. True travel fosters cultural understanding, mindfulness, and personal reflection. When visitors focus entirely on their screens, they miss out on immersive experiences, reducing rich, historic sites to mere backdrops for vanity. Second, this behavior often creates severe real-world problems for local destinations. Mass crowds gathering exclusively at iconic camera angles lead to overtourism, foot-traffic congestion, and physical damage to delicate environments. Moreover, local communities often suffer from increased noise pollution and disruptive behavior from individuals attempting to film content for online attention.

In conclusion, the practice of visiting famous places purely for self-directed photography is fueled by the desire for online validation. I view this as a detrimental trend because it strips travel of its deeper educational and personal significance while placing unnecessary strain on famous landmarks and local communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify the causes—social media influence and the desire for digital status—and provide a well-supported argument for why this is a negative trend. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between genuine travel and 'staged' experiences. The example of the Taj Mahal effectively illustrates your point, and the discussion regarding the physical impact on landmarks adds depth to your argument. You have met all requirements of the task with a clear, logical, and well-supported response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the causes to the negative consequences. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Consequently,' 'For instance,' 'First,' and 'Moreover,' which help the reader follow your argument without difficulty. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'pervasive influence,' 'digital self-presentation,' 'temporary social validation,' and 'immersive experiences' are used accurately and naturally. Your word choice is precise, and you avoid repetition. There is a clear awareness of style and collocation, which allows you to express complex ideas with ease. The vocabulary is not only sufficient for the task but also contributes significantly to the overall quality and professional tone of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use a mix of simple and complex forms with high accuracy, which makes the text easy to read and highly professional. There are no noticeable grammatical errors that impede communication. Your ability to maintain grammatical accuracy while using sophisticated sentence structures is a key strength of this response.

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