Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16

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)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than appreciate the places they are visiting. This trend is largely driven by social media and the desire to share memorable moments online. In my view, this is a negative development because it can reduce people's enjoyment of their experiences and create unnecessary pressure.

The main reason for this behaviour is the growing influence of social media platforms. People often want to upload attractive photographs to receive likes, comments and attention from their friends and followers. As a result, taking a good photograph can become more important than exploring the attraction itself. Another reason is the desire to show others that they have visited popular destinations. For example, tourists may spend a significant amount of time taking selfies in front of famous landmarks so that they can post them on Instagram or Facebook.

I believe this is mainly a negative trend. Firstly, visitors may fail to appreciate the historical, cultural or natural importance of a place because they are concentrating on taking photographs. Consequently, their trip may become less meaningful and memorable. Secondly, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors, particularly when people stand in crowded areas for long periods to get the perfect picture. For instance, at a popular historical site, tourists who repeatedly take selfies may block pathways and prevent others from enjoying the attraction.

In conclusion, the popularity of social media and the desire for online attention are major reasons why people focus more on photographs than their surroundings. Although taking pictures can preserve memories, I believe that excessive focus on selfies is generally a negative trend because it can reduce genuine appreciation of the places people visit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, investigating both the reasons behind the trend of taking photographs at famous sites without engaging with the place and giving a clear, well-supported opinion on whether it is a positive or negative development. The writer presents a clear position throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported effectively, with relevant examples provided such as tourists posting photos on Instagram or Facebook and blocking pathways at historical sites. The response aligns well with the Band 7 and Band 8 descriptors for Task Achievement, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the requirements of Task 2.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the context and writer's stance, followed by body paragraphs exploring reasons and the negative nature of the trend, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately without being overly mechanical, using phrases such as 'The main reason', 'Another reason', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly' to structure the arguments smoothly. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to an overall coherent piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and natural range of vocabulary adequate for the task. Less common lexical items and collocations are used with some awareness of style, such as 'tourist attractions', 'historical, cultural or natural importance', and 'excessive photography'. Word choices are precise, and spelling is entirely accurate throughout the text. While it does not consistently display the fully flexible control of uncommon items found at Band 8, the vocabulary easily satisfies the Band 7 requirements by being precise and varied.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a good variety of complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Examples include concessive and causal structures such as 'People often want to upload attractive photographs to receive likes...' and 'Although taking pictures can preserve memories, I believe that excessive focus on selfies is generally a negative trend...'. Control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout, and there are virtually no noticeable errors that impede communication. The grammatical range and accuracy comfortably support a Band 7.5 score.

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