Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of people have visited famous landmarks primarily to take photographs of themselves, rather than to appreciate their surroundings. This phenomenon can largely be attributed to the influence of social media and the desire for online recognition. In my view, however, it is a negative trend because it diminishes the value of travel and encourages superficial experiences.

The most significant reason for this behaviour is the growing popularity of social networking platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. People often feel compelled to document their experiences and share visually appealing photographs with friends and followers. In addition, receiving likes, comments and positive feedback can provide a sense of social approval, encouraging individuals to prioritise taking the perfect photograph over genuinely experiencing a destination. For example, tourists may spend considerable time posing in front of a landmark while paying little attention to its historical or cultural significance.

I believe this is predominantly a negative development. Firstly, travellers who concentrate excessively on photography may miss opportunities to understand the culture, history and natural beauty of the places they visit. Secondly, the pursuit of attractive photographs can make travel more performative than meaningful, as people may visit destinations simply to create impressive social-media content. This can also lead to overcrowding at popular attractions.

In conclusion, the rise of social media and the desire for recognition are the main drivers of this trend. Although photographs can preserve valuable memories, prioritizing them over experiencing a destination is ultimately a detrimental development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify the reasons for the trend, specifically the influence of social media and the desire for validation, and you take a firm, consistent position that this is a negative development. The ideas are well-developed, with logical progression from the cause (social media pressure) to the consequences (superficiality and overcrowding). The response is balanced and provides relevant examples, such as tourists posing at landmarks, which effectively illustrates your point. The conclusion successfully synthesizes your argument without introducing new information, meeting all requirements for a high-level response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'For example', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the text. The flow between sentences is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'phenomenon', 'genuinely experiencing', 'historical or cultural significance', and 'performative' show a good command of language. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic context. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is accurate, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('prioritizing them over experiencing a destination') and subordinate clauses ('Although photographs can preserve valuable memories...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors in tense, agreement, or punctuation. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent throughout the text. The writing is polished and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which is appropriate for a high-band score.

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