Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

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 8.0)

Nowadays, it is increasingly common for people to visit famous landmarks 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 share experiences online. In my view, this is a negative development because it can reduce people's appreciation of culture and turn meaningful experiences into opportunities for gaining online attention.

One major reason for this behaviour is the growing influence of social media platforms. People often feel that sharing attractive photographs from famous destinations allows them to present an interesting lifestyle to their friends and followers. In addition, receiving likes, comments and positive reactions can encourage people to take more photographs. Another reason is the pressure to document every experience. Many tourists believe that a photograph provides evidence that they have visited a particular landmark, even if they spend very little time learning about its history or significance.

I believe this is predominantly a negative trend. Firstly, constantly focusing on taking photographs can prevent visitors from fully experiencing a destination. For example, someone visiting a historic monument may spend most of their time finding the best angle for a photograph instead of reading about its historical importance or observing the architecture. Consequently, the visit may become more superficial and less educational. Secondly, excessive photography can sometimes disturb other visitors. Crowded tourist attractions may become even more congested when people stop frequently to take selfies or create social-media content.

However, taking photographs is not necessarily harmful. Photos can help people preserve memories and share beautiful places with family and friends. They can also encourage others to become interested in travelling and discovering different cultures. The problem arises when taking photographs becomes more important than experiencing the destination itself.

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 can help preserve memories and promote tourism, I believe that ignoring the actual place in favour of creating social-media content is generally a negative trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student has fully addressed all parts of the task. They clearly explain why people visit famous places to take photographs of themselves, citing social media influence and the desire for online recognition. Furthermore, they take a clear, well-developed position that this is predominantly a negative trend due to the superficial nature of such visits and the potential disturbance to others. Relevant examples, such as a tourist focusing on camera angles rather than the historical importance of a monument, are provided to support the arguments. The ideas are extended effectively throughout the response, meeting all the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. 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, and ending with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'One major reason', 'In addition', 'Firstly', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas clearly, ensuring that referencing and substitution flow smoothly throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for the task. Words and phrases such as 'famous landmarks', 'social media platforms', 'superficial and less educational', and 'online recognition' are employed accurately. While there is an attempt to use less common lexical items, some of the choices are slightly standard rather than advanced, placing this firmly in the Band 7 range. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, and communication is never impeded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('Although photography can help preserve memories...') and conditional elements. The majority of sentences are error-free, and there is a high level of control over punctuation and grammatical forms. Minor slips are very rare, demonstrating a strong command of grammar appropriate for a Band 8 score.

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