Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-24

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, it is increasingly common for people to visit famous tourist attractions mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to appreciate the places they are visiting. This trend is largely driven by social media and the desire to create an attractive online image. In my opinion, although taking photographs can help people preserve memories, this is generally a negative development because it can prevent them from genuinely experiencing their surroundings.

One major reason for this behaviour is the growing influence of social media. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook encourage users to share photographs of their lives with friends and followers. As a result, visiting a famous landmark can become an opportunity to create impressive content rather than an experience in itself. People may spend a considerable amount of time choosing the right location, pose and angle instead of learning about the history or culture of the place. In addition, social approval in the form of likes and comments can encourage people to visit popular destinations simply to appear fashionable or successful.

I believe this is predominantly a negative trend. When tourists focus too heavily on taking photographs, they may fail to appreciate the cultural, historical and natural significance of the places they visit. For example, someone visiting the Taj Mahal might spend most of their time taking selfies and uploading them online instead of observing its architecture or learning about its history. Furthermore, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors and contribute to overcrowding at popular tourist attractions.

However, photography itself is not necessarily harmful. Taking a few pictures can help people preserve memories and share their travel experiences with family and friends. The problem arises when photographs become the main purpose of the visit rather than a way of documenting it.

In conclusion, the popularity of social media and the desire for online recognition are the main reasons why people increasingly take photographs of themselves at famous places. Although photography has some benefits, I believe that prioritising selfies over experiencing a destination is largely a negative trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. The writer clearly explains why people focus on taking photographs rather than experiencing locations, citing the influence of social media and the desire for online validation. Furthermore, the writer presents a clear position throughout the essay, arguing that this is predominantly a negative trend, and supports this view with relevant examples such as visiting the Taj Mahal. The ideas are well developed and extended appropriately throughout the essay, meeting all the requirements of Band 7 and aligning closely with the descriptors for a strong performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, moving into causes, then exploring negative impacts, acknowledging the counter-argument, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and flexibly without becoming mechanical (e.g., 'As a result', 'In addition', 'Furthermore', 'However'). Paragraphing is managed skilfully and logically supports the flow of ideas, satisfying all criteria for a Band 7.5 or solid Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient and generally natural range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items such as 'predominantly', 'cultural, historical and natural significance', and 'online recognition' are employed with a good awareness of style and collocation. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While it stops just short of the wide, highly flexible range required for an 8.0, the vocabulary is precise and well-suited to the task, easily meeting the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay displays a very good variety of complex structures used accurately alongside simple sentence forms. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses, conditional-style framing, and complex noun phrases (e.g., 'When tourists focus too heavily on taking photographs, they may fail to appreciate...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled with strong control. There are only very occasional minor slips or awkward constructions, placing this grammar performance comfortably at a Band 7.5 level.

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