Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06

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 people believe that this is beneficial because the public is interested in celebrities' lives, others argue that photographers should not constantly follow famous individuals. This essay will discuss both views before presenting my opinion.

On the one hand, photographing famous people can be considered beneficial because celebrities often attract significant public attention. Many people enjoy learning about the lifestyles, fashion, and daily activities of actors, musicians, and athletes. As a result, photographs and news about celebrities can provide entertainment for the public. Furthermore, media companies can generate considerable income by publishing such content, which also creates employment opportunities for photographers and journalists.

On the other hand, constantly following famous people can seriously invade their privacy. Although celebrities are public figures, they are still entitled to have personal lives. Being photographed everywhere they go can cause stress and prevent them from enjoying ordinary activities with their families and friends. For example, aggressive photographers who follow celebrities outside their homes or during private holidays may create uncomfortable or even dangerous situations.

In my opinion, the public's interest in famous people does not justify unlimited intrusion into their private lives. Photographers should be allowed to take pictures at public events, such as award ceremonies, concerts, and sports competitions. However, celebrities should be given privacy when they are spending time with their families or engaging in personal activities.

In conclusion, although photographs of famous people can entertain the public and support the media industry, excessive attention from photographers can violate celebrities' privacy. Therefore, a reasonable balance between public interest and personal privacy is essential.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly discussed both sides of the argument—the public interest in celebrities and the ethical concerns regarding privacy—and provided a well-reasoned personal opinion. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of award ceremonies and the impact of aggressive photography on personal life. The position is clear throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. The development is balanced, and the response maintains a consistent focus on the prompt throughout.

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, facilitated by appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of the argument. The use of referencing is precise, and the flow of information is natural, making the essay easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'significant public attention', 'invade their privacy', and 'unlimited intrusion' are used accurately and appropriately in context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be elevated further to reach a higher band by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to media ethics or social dynamics. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure in the final paragraph ('...when they are spending time with their families...'). Punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is generally error-free. The majority of your sentences are clear and well-formed. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, though the current level of accuracy is very high.

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