Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-23

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 7.5)

In contemporary society, eminent public figures are incessantly subjected to the scrutiny of professional photographers, who document their movements with remarkable persistence. While some contend that such relentless media attention is justified by the public’s insatiable curiosity, others consider it an unwarranted infringement upon personal privacy. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint.

On the one hand, extensive media coverage can be regarded as an inevitable consequence of celebrity status. Individuals who attain prominence often cultivate a public persona, thereby generating substantial public interest in their lifestyles and activities. Photographic coverage can consequently satisfy widespread curiosity and provide commercially valuable entertainment. Furthermore, celebrities frequently exploit media exposure to publicise cinematic projects, commercial ventures or philanthropic initiatives. Consequently, photographers can facilitate the dissemination of information that may possess considerable social or commercial relevance.

On the other hand, incessant surveillance can constitute a profound violation of an individual’s personal sphere. Celebrities, despite their public status, remain entitled to solitude and familial privacy. Moreover, persistent pursuit by photographers can engender considerable psychological pressure and deprive individuals of the opportunity to engage in mundane activities without scrutiny. However, photography conducted at public occasions or with explicit consent is considerably less problematic. Nevertheless, clandestinely pursuing individuals during private moments represents an ethically questionable practice.

In my view, public fascination should not supersede an individual’s fundamental entitlement to privacy. Although celebrities must inevitably tolerate a degree of public scrutiny, professional photographers should observe unequivocal ethical boundaries. A judicious equilibrium between legitimate journalism and personal privacy is therefore essential.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the positive and negative aspects of celebrity photography and clearly stating the writer's own opinion. The introduction sets a clear tone, and the body paragraphs logically explore both viewpoints with relevant extensions, such as the public interest argument and the psychological toll of paparazzi. The position is maintained cohesively throughout the essay, meeting the Band 8 descriptor well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from one paragraph to the next. The essay employs a wide range of cohesive devices smoothly and unobtrusively, such as 'While some contend', 'On the one hand', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic, aligning well with the Band 8 criteria.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible vocabulary range with skilful use of less common and sophisticated lexical items such as 'incessantly subjected', 'insatiable curiosity', 'unwarranted infringement', and 'judicious equilibrium'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies or less-than-perfect collocations, reflecting a strong Band 8 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of control. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled proficiently. Complex structures are integrated naturally, for example, 'Individuals who attain prominence often cultivate a public persona, thereby generating substantial public interest'. This level of accuracy and syntactic variety corresponds to a Band 8.

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