Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-23

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)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the places they are visiting. This trend is largely caused by social media and the desire to share experiences online. Although taking photographs can be enjoyable, I believe that focusing too much on selfies has a negative effect on the travel experience.

One major reason for this trend is the growing influence of social networking platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. People often feel that posting attractive photographs from famous locations will make their lives appear more exciting and successful. In addition, smartphones and high-quality cameras have made it extremely easy to take and share pictures instantly. As a result, some tourists become more concerned with creating impressive content than understanding the history or culture of a destination.

This can be considered a negative development because it prevents people from fully experiencing the places they visit. For example, someone visiting the Taj Mahal may spend more time choosing the perfect angle for a selfie than appreciating its architecture and learning about its history. Furthermore, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors and may encourage people to behave irresponsibly in order to get unusual pictures.

However, photography itself is not necessarily harmful. Taking a few pictures can help people preserve memories and share their experiences with friends and family. The problem arises when photography becomes the main purpose of travelling.

In conclusion, the popularity of social media and smartphones has encouraged people to prioritise photographs over genuine experiences. While taking pictures is a valuable part of tourism, travellers should also make an effort to appreciate the culture, history and beauty of the places they visit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by explaining why people visit places mainly to take photographs and clearly presenting the writer's position that this is a negative trend. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of tourists visiting the Taj Mahal spending more time framing a selfie than appreciating the architecture. The discussion covers both social media motivations and the consequences on the travel experience, meeting the requirements of a Band 7 or Band 8 very well. Although some points could be expanded further for a Band 9, all aspects of the task are thoroughly covered with clear supporting evidence from the student's own reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, followed by body paragraphs exploring the causes and the negative impacts, a balanced concession paragraph, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and appropriately, such as 'In addition,' 'As a result,' 'Furthermore,' and 'However.' Paragraphing is used sufficiently and logically to separate distinct ideas. Referencing is clear, and the overall progression guides the reader smoothly through the argument without any noticeable disruption, aligning well with the Band 7 and Band 8 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, suitable for discussing modern trends and tourism. Phrases such as 'tourist attractions,' 'social networking platforms,' 'impressive content,' and 'genuine experiences' demonstrate a good control of lexical items. There is an awareness of collocation and style, and less common vocabulary is attempted successfully, such as 'excessive photography' and 'prioritise.' Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, and communication is never impeded. While it does not consistently display the highly sophisticated idiomatic control required for Band 8 or 9, it is a very solid representation of Band 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully employing a variety of complex sentence structures. Examples include concessive clauses ('Although taking photographs can be enjoyable, I believe that...') and participial phrases ('preventing people from fully experiencing...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur do not impede communication at all. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and structure arguments. The control over complex syntax is strong and consistent, matching the upper-intermediate to advanced profile described in the Band 7 and 8 criteria.

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