Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05
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 5.5)
With the rise in accessibility of cameras and the globalisation kick-started by the internet, photos of landmarks and incredible sceneries have become commonplace. This has somewhat reduced the novelty of these places, shifting the focus more on sharing the journey with the rest of the world, than fully taking in and enjoying the travel destination by itself. In my opinion, this is a largely negative drive towards valuing superficial experiences while disrupting the environment of these historical locations.
The root of this trend arises from how modern social media apps are programming our behaviour and internet etiquette. It rewards a carefully manufactured and perfected representation of one's lifestyle rather than an honest summary of the day. The focus of
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, containing only 119 words. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to address the prompt fully. While the introduction provides a clear position on why this trend is happening and identifies it as a negative development, the body paragraph is truncated before the ideas can be developed or supported with examples. Consequently, the response is only a partial attempt at the task, which severely limits the score for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The writing shows a good grasp of logical flow in the introduction, using cohesive devices like 'With the rise in...' and 'This has somewhat reduced...'. The transition to the body paragraph is clear, and the sentences are well-structured. However, because the essay ends abruptly, there is no overall progression or conclusion. The paragraphing is appropriate for the limited length, but the lack of a completed argument prevents a higher score. The coherence is present in the initial sentences, but the cohesion is interrupted by the premature ending.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is quite sophisticated and appropriate for the topic. Phrases such as 'globalisation kick-started by the internet', 'novelty of these places', and 'carefully manufactured and perfected representation' demonstrate a good range of lexical items. The student shows an ability to use collocations effectively. While the range is limited due to the short length of the text, the quality of the words chosen is high and contributes to a clear, formal tone. There are no noticeable errors in word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is accurate and displays a good range of structures. The student uses complex sentences effectively, such as the opening sentence which employs a participial phrase, and the second sentence which uses a comparative structure. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the text. There are no grammatical errors in the provided portion of the essay. While the range of structures is limited by the brevity of the response, the control over the sentences that were written is strong.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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