Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-12

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries and contributes a great deal to economies around the world. However, the damage tourism can cause to local cultures and the environment is often ignored.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Tourism has become one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and provides significant economic benefits to many countries. However, it can also have negative effects on local cultures and the environment. I partly agree that these problems are often ignored, although I believe that tourism can be managed in a way that reduces its harmful effects.

On the one hand, tourism can cause considerable damage to the environment. Large numbers of visitors can produce more waste, increase pollution and put pressure on natural resources. For example, popular beaches and tourist destinations may become polluted because of plastic waste and excessive use of water. In addition, the construction of hotels, roads and other tourist facilities can lead to the destruction of forests and natural habitats. In some places, governments and businesses focus more on increasing tourism revenue than protecting the environment.

On the other hand, tourism does not always harm local cultures, and it can actually help preserve them. Tourists often visit historical sites, traditional villages and cultural festivals, which can provide local communities with an important source of income. This money can then be used to maintain historic buildings and support traditional arts and crafts.

In my opinion, the negative effects of tourism should not be ignored, but they can be controlled through responsible tourism.

In conclusion, tourism can damage both the environment and local cultures when it is poorly managed. However, with appropriate regulations and responsible behaviour, its economic benefits can be achieved without causing serious long-term harm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that acknowledges both the negative impacts of tourism and the potential for mitigation. Your ideas are relevant and logically developed. For instance, you provide specific examples of environmental degradation, such as plastic waste and habitat destruction, and counter this with the economic benefits for cultural preservation. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are more deeply extended; while your points are clear, they remain somewhat brief. Expanding on the 'how' of responsible tourism with a concrete example would have strengthened the development of your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your essay is well-organized with a clear logical progression. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow your argument easily. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic. The transition between the environmental concerns and the cultural benefits is smooth. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat formulaic structure, but overall, the flow of information is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'significant economic benefits', 'natural habitats', and 'responsible tourism' are used accurately. You show an awareness of collocation, and your word choice is generally appropriate for an academic context. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'damage', you could use 'detrimental impact' or 'degradation', and instead of 'help', you might use 'facilitate' or 'bolster'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Your grammar is generally accurate, and there are frequent error-free sentences throughout the essay. For example, your use of conditional-like structures ('when it is poorly managed') and relative clauses ('which can provide local communities...') shows good control. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To move toward a higher band, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already demonstrated.

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