Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 frequently photographed by professional photographers wherever they go. While some argue that this is justified because the public has a legitimate interest in the lives of celebrities, others believe that constantly following them is an unacceptable invasion of privacy. Although public interest is understandable, I believe that photographers should respect the private lives of famous individuals and their families.

On the one hand, there are reasonable arguments for photographing public figures. Celebrities, particularly politicians, athletes and other influential individuals, often attract considerable public attention, and photographs can provide people with information about their activities outside their professional lives. In some cases, such attention may even serve an important public interest. For example, photographs can expose inappropriate behaviour by public figures or provide evidence of actions that they might otherwise deny. Furthermore, professional photographers and news organisations operate in response to genuine public demand. If millions of people are interested in the lives of celebrities, it is understandable that the media seeks to provide content that appeals to this audience.

On the other hand, I believe that there is a clear distinction between legitimate public interest and simple curiosity. Famous people may choose to work in the public eye, but this does not mean that they surrender their right to privacy. Constantly being followed and photographed can make ordinary activities, such as spending time with friends or family, extremely difficult. This problem is particularly concerning when photographers pursue celebrities in places where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Moreover, intrusive coverage can affect not only celebrities themselves but also their children and relatives, who have not chosen to live under public scrutiny. The media therefore has a responsibility to distinguish between information that genuinely benefits the public and material that merely satisfies people's curiosity.

In conclusion, although the public's interest in famous people can sometimes justify media coverage, this does not give photographers unlimited permission to follow them wherever they go. In my view, photographs should be taken when there is a genuine public interest, but celebrities should otherwise be allowed the same basic privacy that ordinary people expect.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the public's interest in celebrity lives and the ethical concerns regarding privacy—while maintaining a consistent and well-supported personal position. The ideas are well-developed, such as the distinction between public figures like politicians and the intrusive nature of paparazzi on family members. The introduction clearly states your stance, and the conclusion reinforces it effectively. The arguments are logical and relevant, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements. No parts of the prompt were neglected, and the development of ideas is balanced and thoughtful throughout the essay.

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 effective cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover'. The use of referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sides of the debate and your personal opinion. The flow of information is natural, and the cohesive devices are used flexibly without being mechanical or repetitive, which contributes to a very readable and coherent piece of writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision and natural control. Phrases such as 'legitimate public interest', 'surrender their right to privacy', and 'public scrutiny' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choices are consistently appropriate for the academic tone of the task. There are no noticeable errors in collocation or word choice, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition. You successfully use less common lexical items to convey nuanced meanings, which is indicative of a high level of lexical proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences, relative clauses, and varied sentence beginnings. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and syntax is excellent. You use complex structures naturally to link ideas, such as 'Although public interest is understandable, I believe that...'. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The accuracy is high, and the variety of structures used contributes to the overall fluency and sophistication of the writing. It is a very strong performance in terms of grammatical control.

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