Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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 8.0)

Nowadays, famous people are constantly photographed by professional photographers wherever they go. While some people believe that this is acceptable because the public is interested in celebrities’ lives, others argue that photographers should respect their privacy. In my opinion, although the public may have an interest in famous people, following them everywhere is inappropriate and can negatively affect their personal lives.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people support photographers taking pictures of celebrities. Firstly, famous people are public figures, so many people are naturally interested in their careers, lifestyles and daily activities. Photographs can also help fans feel connected to their favourite actors, singers or athletes. Secondly, celebrity news and photographs are an important part of newspapers, magazines and entertainment websites. For example, when a famous actor attends a public event, photographs of them can attract millions of readers and viewers.

On the other hand, constantly following famous people can be considered an invasion of privacy. Celebrities may be well known, but they are still entitled to have a private life. Being photographed while spending time with family, eating at a restaurant or travelling can make them feel uncomfortable and stressed. In some cases, aggressive photographers may even put celebrities or other members of the public in danger by chasing them for better photographs. For instance, many well-known personalities have complained about photographers following them during their personal time.

In my opinion, photographers should be allowed to take pictures of famous people at public events or when they are performing their professional duties. However, they should not follow them or photograph them in private situations simply because the public is curious about their lives. Respecting personal boundaries is more important than satisfying public curiosity.

In conclusion, although there is a strong public interest in the lives of famous people, I believe that photographers should respect their privacy. Celebrity status should not mean that a person loses the right to a private and peaceful life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the public's interest in celebrities and the ethical concerns regarding privacy—and provided a well-reasoned personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, starting from the introduction and reinforced in the conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between public events and private life, which adds depth to your argument. The response is balanced and logically structured, meeting all the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of linking words like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the topic. Phrases such as 'public figures', 'invasion of privacy', 'entitled to', and 'personal boundaries' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it could be elevated further by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with clarity and precision, and there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the conditional structure 'if... then' implied in your arguments and the use of subordinate clauses like 'although the public may have an interest...'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence structure is varied. There are very few, if any, grammatical errors, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is clear and error-free, which supports the overall readability of the response.

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