Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-24

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, it has been a trend to click selfies over genuinely experiencing the places they visit. More and more people are now visiting famous places not to immerse themselves into the history or culture but to capture pictures. This phenomenon is all because of social media exposure, and in my view, this is a negative impact on this generation.

One primary reason is social media validation. In a world of Instagram and Facebook, everyone wants to post almost everything, compromising their privacy. The more luxurious, impressive or expensive the location, the more likes and comments they get, which basically boosts their self-esteem. Additionally, the tag "Influencer" has made it more fashionable to showcase a glamorous lifestyle. For many, the photograph is more important than the actual location since it serves as a social currency. This is not only amongst the youngsters but also with grown adults beyond the age of 50 years who priortize pictures over happiness of seeing a place.

While this trend seems harmless, there are many negative implications associated with it. Firstly, it decreases the cultural and educational value of travel. For example, people go to Eiffel Tower and don't know the historical value of this architectural masterpiece. How or When it was built. Furthermore, this creates a havoc near the surroundings with overcrowding, clicking millions of pictures in thousand different poses which blocks the view for others. For instance, everyone wants a picture with Eiffel Tower, but since they are not satisfied with one picture they need multiple which interupts other people who really wants to enjoy their moment and romaticize it.

In conclusion, the trend of visiting famous place is more emphasized than knowing it's cultural aspects. Taking pictures or recording videos is not a crime but at the same time knowing that place actually will give more memories. So in my opinion satisfying with a picture or two and then enjoying the history behind that place will be a change that everyone will have to adapt so this phenomenon is not carried to another digitalized generation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address both questions directly: social-media validation is presented as the main cause, and you clearly judge the trend negatively. The explanation of likes, comments and “social currency” is relevant, while the Eiffel Tower examples support your points about lost learning and disruption to other visitors. This gives the response a clear position and extends its main ideas. Some claims, however, are broad—for example, that people of all ages prioritise photographs over the happiness of seeing a place—and the point about overcrowding could be explained more precisely. To strengthen the response further, develop these effects with a specific consequence or example and qualify generalisations rather than presenting them as universal.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction states the cause and position, the first body paragraph explains why the behaviour occurs, the second develops its negative effects, and the conclusion restates your view. Paragraphing is appropriate, and signposts such as “One primary reason,” “Additionally,” and “Firstly” help readers follow the argument. Some linking is a little mechanical, and the long sentence beginning “For instance, everyone wants a picture” carries several connected ideas that would be clearer if divided. The final sentence also combines a recommendation with the conclusion in a somewhat crowded way. Use referencing and transitions more selectively, and make the relationship between each example and its main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “social media validation,” “cultural and educational value,” “overcrowding,” and “social currency.” These choices show some flexibility and help express the argument clearly. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, but several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “creates a havoc,” “romaticize it,” and “satisfying with a picture.” Spelling slips such as “priortize” and “interupts” also reduce precision. The meaning is generally recoverable, so the vocabulary remains adequate, but more consistent control of collocation and spelling would make the writing more fluent and precise. Check unfamiliar phrases in context and prefer natural combinations over elaborate wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the contrast in “While this trend seems harmless” and the relative clause in “which blocks the view for others.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “people go to Eiffel Tower” needs an article, and “other people who really wants” has a subject–verb agreement error. The question fragments “How or When it was built” are not integrated into a complete sentence, while “visiting famous place” and “knowing it’s cultural aspects” show problems with number and possessive form. Aim to proofread sentence boundaries, articles, agreement and possessives, and recast fragments as complete sentences.

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