Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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 5.5)

Nowadays, celebrities are consistently followed by photographers. They take pictures of them and post them on social media whether they agree to that or not.

Some people think this is a good idea for many reasons.

First, celebrities are well-known people that many individuals around the world recognize. If photographers take an interesting picture of famous people, it draws the attention of their fans and as a result, the media companies make a lot of money.

Second, they believe that celebrities such as actors and singers should not be treated like normal. In their logic, they chose this lifestyle and they voluntarily pose for pictures in magazines and journals.

On the other hand, many people think that celebrities are people just like us and it is wrong to follow them everywhere they go.

They have lots of fans and followers who would love to see them and hear news about their daily lives and relationships, therefore, it is natural that some people get excited when they spot them in public and then take a picture. But as can be seen, many photographers cross the line. An example of the negative side of the paparazzi is the famous princess Diana, who died during a car accident while escaping from photographers.

In my opinion, celebrities are not quite like other individuals since they have the public attention. But they are already being photographed by many professionals. There is no need to see them at a local restaurant while eating food.

In conclusion, although many of us love to see our beloved celebrities and know about their daily life, we should respect their boundaries and not cross the line.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the media making money is relevant but could be expanded with more depth. The second paragraph regarding celebrities choosing their lifestyle is a bit brief. While the position is clear throughout, the supporting points lack the depth required for a higher band. The example of Princess Diana is a strong, relevant inclusion that supports the argument against invasive photography effectively. To improve, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed explanations or examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'First', 'Second', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be more sophisticated. For example, the link between the public's interest and the photographers' behavior could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the essay maintains a coherent flow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'paparazzi' and 'boundaries'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and some word choices are repetitive or simplistic, such as 'well-known people' and 'normal'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the use of less common lexical items is infrequent. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to convey nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate, there are some minor errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'treated like normal' (should be 'treated like normal people') and 'while eating food' (which is slightly unnatural). The punctuation is generally correct, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater precision to demonstrate higher control.

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