Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

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, an increasing numbe of people have been visiting famous tourist destinations mainly to take photographs of themselves rather than to genuinely observe or appreciate the surroundings. There are several reason behind such an occurrencel; however, in my opinion, it has negative consequences. Both root causes as well as my preference are elaborated in ensuing write-ups.

The primary reason this phenomenon is occuring is the strong impact of social media platforms. Many individuals feel encouraged; sometimes even pressured to post attractive photos in order to gain approval, likes, and followers. As a result, capturing the "perfect picture" often becomes more important than experiencing the place itself. In addition to this, modern smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras make photography extremely accessible, allowing tourists to focus more on clicking selfies than on learning about the cultural, historical, or natural significance of the site. This behaviour has gradually transformed travel into a performance rather than a meaningful experience.

I belive this trend is negative because it diminishes the true purpose of travel. Insted of enriching their knowledge or enjoying the environment, tourists often rush through attractions simply to update their online profiles. This not only leads to superficial experiences but can also create practical problems. Many landmarks become overcrowded with people attempting to take photographs, which disturb other visitors and sometimes results in damage to heritage structures due to careless handling or disregard for rules. Such behaviour reduces the quality and substainability of tourism.

In conclusion, the increasing tedency to visit famous places solely for taking photos in mainly driven by the influence of social media and the convenience of modern technology. However, the negative impacts; such as superficial experiences and harm to cultural sites-make this trend more harmful.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response addresses both questions directly: it explains the trend through social-media pressure and accessible smartphone cameras, then clearly judges it negatively. The position is consistent from the introduction to the conclusion, and the effects are extended with relevant consequences, including rushed visits, overcrowding, disturbance to other visitors, and possible damage to heritage sites. These examples make the argument clear and relevant. To develop the response further, explain one consequence in more depth or add a specific illustrative example; the claims about damage and tourism sustainability are plausible but remain fairly general. Overall, the task is covered and supported, though some points could be more fully substantiated and less broadly stated.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay has a clear four-paragraph structure, with the introduction establishing the topic and position, separate body paragraphs addressing causes and effects, and a conclusion that restates the main argument. Progression is easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “As a result,” “In addition to this,” and “In conclusion” help connect ideas. The cause-and-effect sequence within the first body paragraph is particularly clear. Some transitions feel formulaic, however, and the introduction’s “Both root causes as well as my preference are elaborated in ensuing write-ups” is an awkward signpost rather than a natural progression. The conclusion also compresses several points into one sentence. More natural transitions and clearer links between claims and examples would make cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is an adequate range for discussing the topic, including relevant expressions such as “cultural, historical, or natural significance,” “superficial experiences,” and “heritage structures.” The writer also attempts more formal vocabulary, for example “phenomenon” and “sustainability,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “root causes,” “my preference,” and “ensuing write-ups” do not fit the intended meaning or register well. Spelling slips such as “numbe,” “occurrencel,” “belive,” and “substainability” also reduce accuracy. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit the precision and control expected at a stronger level. Prioritise accurate spelling and natural collocations over unnecessarily formal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, including a relative clause in “smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras” and a contrastive construction in “rather than to genuinely observe or appreciate.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the argument remains understandable. Some grammatical and punctuation errors persist, however. In “Many landmarks become overcrowded … which disturb other visitors,” the relative clause needs a singular verb (“disturbs”) if it refers to the situation, or a clearer plural antecedent. “This not only leads … but can also create” would be more balanced as “but also creates.” The final sentence’s semicolon before “such as” is not appropriate, and the dash punctuation is unclear. Careful editing of agreement, parallel structures, and punctuation would improve accuracy.

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