Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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)

In recent years, tourists visiting renowned places primarily for photograph is increasing rather than to engage with their surrounding locations. This essay will explore behind this occurrence and argue that it represents a largely negative trend.

The main driving force behind this behaviour is the widespread influence of social media. Platforms such as Instagram has created a culture in which validation is measured through likes, comments and followers. Moreover, some individuals prioritize capturing the best photo ever taken over their actual surroundings. Consequently, people have become less interested about experience and more about curating an appealing online images. A clear illustration of this can be seen at popular tourist attractions, where long queues often form not to enter a site, but to simply take a photograph at a specific, camera-friendly spot.

This shift is largely detrimentals, as it diminishes the depth and authenticity of the travel experience. When tourists become preoccupied with photography, they frequently overlook the historical, cultural, or artistic value of the place they are visiting. For example, a visitor to an ancient example might spend the majority of their time adjusting poses and angles, leaving with little understanding of the site's significance. This not only results in a superficial travel experience but may also disturb other visitors seeking a more contemplative or immersive encounter with the location.

In conclusion, this growing tendency appears to stem largely from the desire for social media recognition, and I would argue that it constitutes a negative trend, as it compromises the depth and value of genuine travel experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend (social media validation) and your opinion on whether it is positive or negative. Your position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly the explanation of how social media culture shifts the focus from the experience to the curation of an online image. To reach a higher band, you could provide a more nuanced exploration of the 'why' by perhaps touching on the psychological need for social belonging or the 'fear of missing out' (FOMO) to add further depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' effectively to link your points. However, the transition between the first and second body paragraph could be smoother to better connect the 'cause' to the 'consequence'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'curating an appealing online images' and 'contemplative or immersive encounter' show a good command of language. There are some minor errors, such as 'detrimentals' (should be 'detrimental') and 'ancient example' (likely meant 'ancient site' or 'monument'). While you use some less common items, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on more varied collocations and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips. For instance, 'tourists... for photograph is increasing' should be 'tourists... for photography is increasing' or 'the number of tourists... is increasing'. Additionally, 'Platforms such as Instagram has' should be 'have', and 'an appealing online images' should be 'an appealing online image'. These errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher score, though they do not impede communication. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help you achieve a higher band.

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