Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-19

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 6.5)

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It has both advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed in this essay.

On the positive side, tourism brings many economic benefits. It creates jobs for local people in hotels, restaurants, and transport. For example, in countries like Thailand and Dubai, millions of people get jobs because of tourists. Secondly, governments earn foreign currency from tourists, which helps to develop roads, airports, and hospitals. Also, tourism promotes cultural exchange as people from different countries meet each other.

On the other hand, there are some negative effects of tourism. The main problem is environmental damage. Many tourists throw rubbish, pollute beaches, and damage historical places. For instance, in Murree and northern areas of Pakistan, we can see a lot of garbage because of too many tourists. Another disadvantage is that the prices of things increase for local people. House rent and food become expensive in tourist areas, which creates problems for local families.

In my opinion, although tourism has some problems, its advantages are greater. The government should make strict rules to control pollution and protect tourist places.Ye lo 80 words wala short version:

Tourism is a fast-growing industry with both pros and cons. Its main advantage is economic growth. It creates jobs in hotels and transport and brings foreign currency to develop infrastructure. It also promotes cultural exchange.

However, it has disadvantages. It causes environmental pollution, as tourists leave garbage on beaches and historical sites. Also, it makes life expensive for locals due to high rents and food prices.

In conclusion, tourism provides jobs and economic growth, but it also causes environmental and social problems. If it is managed properly, tourism can be very beneficial for every country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both the economic benefits and the environmental/social drawbacks of tourism. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported by specific examples, such as the mention of Thailand, Dubai, and the northern areas of Pakistan. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion does not simply repeat the points made but synthesises them to provide a more nuanced final thought. Additionally, the inclusion of a 'short version' within the text is unnecessary and disrupts the flow of the response; in an actual exam, you should focus on developing a single, cohesive essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the positive side', 'Secondly', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, the transition between the main body and the 'short version' section is jarring and creates a lack of cohesion. The paragraphing is generally appropriate, but the structure is slightly fragmented due to the inclusion of the summary section. To improve, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices and ensure that the progression of ideas is seamless without repeating content.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'infrastructure', 'cultural exchange', and 'environmental damage' correctly. The language is clear and conveys your meaning effectively. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'prices of things increase', you could use 'the cost of living escalates'. Avoid informal phrases like 'Ye lo' which are inappropriate for an academic writing task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your grammar is generally accurate. Most sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. There are some minor issues with punctuation and sentence variety, but these do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate more complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater consistency. For instance, instead of 'The government should make strict rules', you could use 'Strict regulations should be implemented by the government to mitigate these negative impacts'.

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