Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Nowadays famous people are photographed by professional photographers everywhere they go. Some people say this is a good thing because the public are interested in their lives. Other people think that photographers are wrong to follow famous people.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 7.5)
Nowadays, famous people are photographed by professional photographers almost everywhere they go. While some people believe this benefits the public because celebrities are figures of widespread interest, others argues that constantly following them is an invasion of privacy. This essay will discuss both views before presenting my opinion.
On the one hand, many people believe that photographing celebrities is justified because public figures attract significant public interest. Actors, musicians, athletes, and social politicians often influence fashion, lifestyle, and social trends. As a result, fans enjoy seeing updates about their daily lives, and magazines, newspapers, and online media satisfy this demand. Furthermore, celebrities often earn significant amount of money through their public image, sponsorships, and advertising campaigns. Therefore, some argue that media attention is simply a part of the career they have chosen.
On the other hand, many people trust that paparazzies should respect celebrities' privacy. Although famous people are well known, they are still entitled to a private life. Constantly being followed can cause stress, anxiety, and difficulties for both celebrities and their families. In some cases, photographers may behave aggressively to obtain exclusive pictures, creating dangerous situations. For example, celebrities have occasionally been involved in traffic accidents while trying to avoid groups of photographers. Such incidents show that excessive media attention can have serious consequences.
In my opinion, while the public has a natural curiosity to famous people, photographers should not be allowed to invade their privacy. Taking photographs at public events is acceptable because celebrities expect media coverage in those situations. However, following them during private activities or family time is unnecessary and unethical. Governments should introduce and enforce laws that protect public figures from harassment while still allowing responsible journalism.
In conclusion, although many people enjoy seeing photographs of celebrities and believe media attention is part of fame, I believe everyone deserves privacy. Professional photographers should therefore respect reasonable boundaries between public and private life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between public events and private life. The position is consistent throughout the essay. The arguments are supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of traffic accidents caused by aggressive photographers. The essay is balanced and logically structured, meeting all requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and ideas flow logically from one to the next. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'public figures', 'media coverage', 'unethical', and 'harassment'. While there is a minor error with the pluralization of 'paparazzies' (the correct plural is 'paparazzi'), this does not impede communication. The student demonstrates a good ability to use collocations and academic phrasing, which contributes to a professional tone throughout the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is a minor subject-verb agreement error in the introduction ('others argues' should be 'others argue') and a minor preposition error ('curiosity to' should be 'curiosity about'). However, these are rare slips that do not affect the clarity of the message. The punctuation is used correctly throughout the response.
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