Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

In an era characterised by pervasive media saturation, prominent personalities are subjected to incessant photographic scrutiny, with paparazzi documenting virtually every facet of their public and, at times, ostensibly private lives. While proponents contend that such relentless coverage is a legitimate manifestation of public curiosity, detractors regard it as an indefensible transgression of personal autonomy. I believe the latter position is more compelling when privacy is deliberately compromised.

Admittedly, the extraordinary visibility of celebrities is, to a considerable extent, attributable to their symbiotic relationship with the media. Having deliberately entered the public consciousness, many high-profile individuals derive substantial professional and financial dividends from sustained publicity. Furthermore, photographic exposure can facilitate the promotion of artistic endeavours, entrepreneurial enterprises and philanthropic causes. Consequently, media coverage, provided that it remains proportionate and consensual, can serve legitimate informational and commercial functions.

Nevertheless, the incessant pursuit of celebrities constitutes a qualitatively different phenomenon when it extends beyond reasonable public interest. Moreover, being perpetually subjected to intrusive lenses can erode an individual’s psychological sanctuary and effectively deprive them of an ordinary existence. The argument that fame entails the wholesale relinquishment of privacy is, however, inherently problematic. Although celebrities may reasonably anticipate heightened scrutiny at public engagements, such expectations cannot logically legitimise clandestine surveillance or persistent harassment in private settings.

In my considered view, public fascination should never be construed as an unconditional licence to violate personal boundaries. Consequently, a principled equilibrium must be established whereby legitimate journalistic inquiry is preserved, while intrusive practices that disregard consent and human dignity are unequivocally restrained.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the public's interest justifying coverage and the violation of personal autonomy—while clearly stating a well-developed personal opinion. The writer establishes a sophisticated position early in the introduction, noting that 'prominent personalities are subjected to incessant photographic scrutiny,' and maintains this perspective throughout. Ideas are thoroughly extended and supported, particularly in the body paragraphs where the symbiotic relationship between celebrities and the media is contrasted with the erosion of a psychological sanctuary. The arguments are relevant, well-supported, and directly answer the prompt's requirements with a high level of academic and critical depth, meeting the criteria for a top band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from introduction to the commercial aspects of fame, the counter-argument regarding privacy, and finally a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices are used skilfully and naturally without being intrusive, as seen in transition phrases like 'Admittedly,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Consequently.' Paragraphing is used very effectively to structure the arguments, and referencing throughout the text is consistently clear, ensuring seamless reading from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The writer employs a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range suited to an academic or formal general task. Less common vocabulary items and sophisticated collocations are used with a high degree of precision, such as 'pervasive media saturation,' 'ostensibly private lives,' 'symbiotic relationship,' and 'psychological sanctuary.' Word choice and collocation are handled expertly, and there are virtually no inaccuracies. The vocabulary successfully conveys nuanced arguments about consent, privacy, and media ethics, reflecting a very strong command of lexical resources.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with full flexibility and accuracy. The writer successfully constructs long, embedded sentences containing multiple clauses without losing control of syntax, such as in the opening sentence: 'In an era characterised by pervasive media saturation, prominent personalities are subjected to incessant photographic scrutiny, with paparazzi documenting virtually every facet...' The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is managed expertly throughout. Only rare, minor slips could be conceived, placing this comfortably in the upper tier of grammatical performance.

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