Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-03
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 recent years, there has been an increasing trend among tourists to take self-portraits at a popular location rather than admiring its beauty. I believe the increasing dependency on social media is the primary reason for this behavior.
The phrase, "You have not visited a place, until you have posted it on Facebook", is true today than any time in the last decade. While it seem like an exaggeration, many people strongly believe that posting on social media is as important as visiting a place. One of the recent examples is the installation of a "Selfie-booth" at the world famous Taj Mahal. This new addition not only diverts people's minds away from the Taj Mahal's beautiful architecture, but it also ruins the view for all visitors. We can see the so-called "Selfie-booth" in every recent picture of the Taj Mahal.
There is absolutely no doubt that this is a negative development. Firstly, while visiting a new spot, people should be curious about getting informed about the historical significance of a monument, rather than simply using them for internet fame. Additionally, some of these structures are not designed to accommodate large crowds and could be dangerous if visitors are not cautious. There are numerous cases of people falling from the Tower of London while attempting to take pictures of themselves.
In conclusion, nowadays a large number of visitors are attracted to famous places primarily to take pictures of themselves to post on social media. However, people should invest more time studying its history while being mindful of their surroundings.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by identifying social media dependency as the primary cause and clearly taking a negative stance on the trend. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are generally extended and supported, such as mentioning the 'Selfie-booth' at the Taj Mahal and referencing the Tower of London to illustrate the dangers of distraction. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalize and some arguments, such as the historical significance of monuments, could have been elaborated further to reach the highest level of development.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the causes in the second paragraph and the negative impacts in the third. Cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the argument, though slightly more sophisticated transitions would elevate the cohesion further.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, incorporating less common items such as 'dependency', 'architectural', and 'significance'. There is good awareness of style and collocation, as seen in phrases like 'internet fame' and 'accommodate large crowds'. Occasional minor slips occur, such as writing 'true today than any time' instead of 'truer today', but these do not impede communication and reflect an adequate control of lexical features.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
A variety of complex structures is utilized throughout the essay, including conditional and subordinate clauses like 'While visiting a new spot, people should be curious...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. A few persistent errors remain, such as the tense usage in 'While it seem like an exaggeration' instead of 'seems', but overall grammatical control remains solid and clear.
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