Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In the contemporary world, taking photographs is becoming really popular. Some people visit famous places mainly just to take photographs of themselves rather than enjoying the place. This is happening for several reasons, and I believe that it is a negative trend overall.

One major reason is the influence of social media. In recent times, people often want to share their activities on platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. Taking an attractive photograph at a popular place can help them to show their friend and relatives that they have travelled to an interesting place. In addition, some people are strongly influenced by celebrities who regularly post about their travel destinations. Therefore, they may focus more on taking photos than experiencing the vibe of that place.

Another reason is that taking photographs has become really easy because of smartphones. Almost every person has a smartphone nowadays that they use for taking high-quality photos, which they want to share immediately. For instance, when visiting famous religious temples, people may spend more time taking selfies rather than learning about their heritage and culture.

In my opinion, there is a negative impact of taking photos everywhere. Firstly, they may miss the real experience of visiting a new place because they are concentrating more on capturing memories on their smartphones. Secondly, they may have fewer opportunities to learn about history, culture, and the environment.

To conclude, taking photographs at well-known places may help people to remember their trip. However, focusing too much on taking selfies can reduce their enjoyment and understanding of a particular place

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the reasons behind the trend and clearly establishing a position that it is a negative development. In the second and third paragraphs, the writer explores valid causes such as social media influence, celebrity culture, and the widespread use of smartphones equipped with quality cameras, supported by a relevant example regarding religious temples. The fourth paragraph extends the ideas into the consequences of this behavior, noting missed experiences and a lack of cultural engagement. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, and the main ideas are sufficiently developed to meet the requirements of Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction, followed by two body paragraphs explaining the causes, a paragraph outlining the negative impacts, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader, such as 'One major reason', 'In addition', 'Another reason', 'For instance', and 'Firstly'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the prompt, ensuring the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating less common lexical items such as 'contemporary world', 'celebrities', 'destinations', and 'heritage and culture'. While there are occasional minor inaccuracies or slightly repetitive phrasing like 'taking photographs' and 'taking photos', the vocabulary is sufficient to convey precise meanings without impeding communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the text, reflecting the characteristics of Band 6.5, which rounds to a solid Band 6 in the official scale.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or subordinate clauses such as 'Almost every person has a smartphone nowadays that they use for taking high-quality photos, which they want to share immediately.' Grammatical control is generally strong, with frequent error-free sentences and correct punctuation. While there are a few minor slips—such as 'show their friend' instead of 'friends'—these errors do not impede communication and occur infrequently, showing control that comfortably sits within the Band 7 descriptor.

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