Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28
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 6.0)
Nowadays, more and more people visit famous places mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to enjoy the places. I believe this is happening because of social media, and I consider it a negative trend.
One main reason for this trend is the increasing use of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. People want to share photos of their trips with friends and followers. They may feel that taking a photo at a famous place shows that they have visited it. In addition, some people are more interested in getting likes and comments than learning about the history or culture of the place.
I believe this is negative because visitors may miss the real experience of travelling. For example, a person visiting a historical building may spend most of the time taking selfies instead of looking at its architecture or learning about its history. As a result, the person may return home with many photographs but very little knowledge about the place.
However, taking photographs is not completely negative. Photos can help people remember their trips and share their experiences with family and friends. Nevertheless, people should also spend time enjoying and understanding the places they visit.
In conclusion, social media is a major reason why people focus more on taking photographs of themselves at famous places. In my opinion, this is mainly a negative trend because it can prevent people from fully experiencing and appreciating the places they visit.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by identifying why the trend is happening (social media) and giving a clear opinion that it is negative. The ideas are relevant and supported with a clear example about a visitor at a historical building. However, the response is 7 words under the 250-word minimum requirement (containing 243 words), which prevents it from scoring higher for fully developed extended support. Despite this minor length penalty, the position is clear throughout, and the main prompt requirements are adequately covered.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical organization. The essay is divided into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs addressing causes and negativity, a concession paragraph acknowledging potential benefits, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'For example', 'As a result', and 'However' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Referencing is clear throughout, meaning the progression of ideas is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating functional and topic-related terms like 'social media platforms', 'historical building', and 'appreciating the places'. There are occasional attempts at less common vocabulary, and word choices are generally accurate and natural, ensuring that communication is never impeded. While the range is sufficient for precision on this common topic, it stops short of displaying the wider flexibility found at Band 7.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional or participial clauses ('People want to share photos...', 'Instead of looking at its architecture...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is well managed. The errors are minimal and do not impede communication at all. The control over grammar is solid, aligning well with the characteristics of Band 7.
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