Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-12

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 6.5)

In recent years, an increase number of individuals have visited famous tourist attractions primarily to take photographs rather than to appreciate the place they visited. The trend has become particularly common due to more usage of social media. In my opinion, this is largely a negative development because it reduces the value of travel and encourages people to focus more on online attention then on real experience.

There are several reasons why this phenomenon is becoming increasingly popular. The main reason is the influence of social media like Instagram and Facebook, where people often post there photos or travel experience just to gain likes, comments and followers. Visiting a famous landmark and posting an attractive photograph can help individuals create an online impressive image. furthermore, in today's competitive digital environment, people may feel pressure to demonstrate that they have visited popular destinations. As a result, some tourists spend more time in findings the perfect angles for photograph rather than learning the history, culture and significance of the place.

I believe this a negative trend for several reasons. Firstly, travelling should provide opportunities to relax, discover new cultures and create a meaningful memories. However, when people concentrate mainly on taking photographs, they may fail to enjoy the real experience itself.

For instance, a tourist visiting the "Taj mahal" may get busy in taking photos for social media instead of appreciating the remarkable architecture and historical importance. Secondly, excessive photography may disturb other tourist particularly when people spend a lot of time in posing crowded areas and ignore rules to protect historical sites.

In conclusion, the growing popularity of taking photograph oneself at some famous tourist attraction is driven by social media recognition. Although, photograph is memorable, I believe this trend is negative because it distract people from appreciating famous tourist places they visited. Tourist should balance both photography and historical site significance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address both questions directly: social media is identified as the main cause, and your position that the trend is negative is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion. The reasons are relevant and supported with examples, particularly the contrast between photographing the Taj Mahal and appreciating its architecture and history. You also explain how photography can inconvenience other visitors and threaten site rules. This fits the descriptor because the response develops its main ideas and maintains a consistent position. To strengthen it further, extend the explanation of the second reason: specify how tourists’ behaviour can affect other visitors or damage a site, rather than leaving this point relatively brief. The conclusion could also state more precisely how photography can be balanced with experiencing a destination.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph explaining the causes, a paragraph supporting your negative view, and a conclusion. Ideas progress logically, and signposting such as “The main reason,” “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the argument. The example of the Taj Mahal is placed appropriately after the point about missing the experience itself. Cohesion is generally effective, though some linking is a little mechanical, particularly the repeated sequencing words. The transition from the social-media explanation to the negative effects could be made smoother by explicitly connecting online attention with reduced engagement at the destination. Also check reference clarity in phrases such as “the place they visited,” which could be more specific. More varied, precise links would make the progression feel less formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “tourist attractions,” “online attention,” “historical importance,” and “competitive digital environment.” These expressions help communicate the causes and consequences clearly, and attempts at more specific language are evident. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “an increase number,” “online impressive image,” “in findings the perfect angles,” and “taking photograph oneself.” There are also spelling or form slips, including “there photos” and “Taj mahal.” These do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim to learn common word partnerships and check word forms and spelling carefully; for example, use “an increasing number,” “create an impressive online image,” and “find the perfect angle.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “where people often post…” and a conditional structure in “when people concentrate mainly on taking photographs, they may fail…”. Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include the missing verb in “I believe this a negative trend,” the agreement error in “this trend… distract people,” and article or plural problems in “a meaningful memories” and “other tourist.” There are also punctuation and capitalization slips, such as “furthermore” after a full stop and “Taj mahal.” These errors rarely obstruct the message, which is consistent with the descriptor. To improve, proofread for subject–verb agreement, articles, singular/plural forms, and sentence-initial capitalization.

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