Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30

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)

In recent years , it has become increasingly common for people to visit tourist attractions primarily to take photographs of themselves rather than appreciate the places they are visiting. This trend can largely be attributed to the influence of social media, and I believe that is predominantly a negative development.

One major reason for this behaviour is the growing importance of social media in peoples daily lives.Platforms such as Instagram and other photo-sharing applications encourage users to create attractive posts and receive attention from their followers.Consequently, taking a photograph at a famous landmark can become more important than experiencing the destination itself. In addition, some people feel pressure to demonstrate that they have been to popular locations, particularly when they see friends or influencers posting similar photographs online. This can turn travelling into a way of gaining social recognition than an opportunity to learn about different cultures and environments.

In my view, this is largely a negative trend. When visitors focus excessively on taking photographs , they may fail to get to know the historical, cultural or natural significance of the places they have travelled so far to experience.For example, someone visiting a historical monument may spend most of their time finding the perfect angle for a photograph instead of learning about its history. Moreover, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors or contribute to overcrowding at popular attractions.

That said, taking photographs is not inherently harmful, as photographs can preserve valuable memories and allow people to share their travel experiences with others. However, this should complete the travel experience rather than replace it.

In conclusion, the growing tendency to prioritise photographs over genuine experiences is mainly driven by social media and the desire for recognition. Although photographs has clear benefits, I believe visitors should focus more on living in the moment and enjoy there time in the places they visit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify the reasons for this trend, specifically the influence of social media and the pressure for social validation. Your position that this is a negative development is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the point regarding the loss of cultural appreciation when visitors prioritize photography over engagement. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by exploring the long-term impact on the tourism industry or the psychological effects on the travelers themselves, providing even more depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized 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 'Consequently', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' effectively to link your points. However, there are minor issues with punctuation spacing, such as 'years , it' and 'photographs , they', which slightly disrupt the flow. Additionally, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better connect the causes to the negative consequences. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the development of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'predominantly a negative development', 'social recognition', and 'historical, cultural or natural significance' are used appropriately. There are some minor errors, such as 'peoples daily lives' (missing apostrophe) and 'enjoy there time' (incorrect homophone for 'their'). While you use some good collocations, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items would elevate the response. The vocabulary is generally accurate and allows for clear communication of your ideas throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which makes the essay easy to read. However, there are a few grammatical slips, such as 'photographs has clear benefits' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'gaining social recognition than' (should be 'rather than'). Punctuation errors, specifically missing spaces after commas, occur throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching the highest band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and punctuation consistency will help improve your accuracy.

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