Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-24

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 and it provides significant economic benefits to many countries. However, some people believe that the negative effects of tourism on local cultures and the environment are often ignored. I largely agree with this view because tourism can cause environmental damage and affect local communities.

One major problem caused by tourism is environmental pollution. A large number of tourists can produce a considerable amount of waste in popular tourist areas. If visitors throw plastic bags, food wrappers and bottles in public places, this can make the area dirty and pollute the environment. For example, tourists may buy food near tourist attractions and leave their wrappers on the streets. This can create pollution and may also cause health problems. Moreover, large numbers of tourists can increase traffic, which can contribute to air pollution.

Tourism can also have some negative effects on local people and their culture. A large number of visitors may not always respect local religious customs and traditions. In addition, the prices of goods and services may increase in popular tourist destinations. As a result, poor local families may find it difficult to afford some basic products. However, tourism also has important economic advantages. It can create jobs and provide income for local people. Tourists spend money on hotels, restaurants, shops and local products, helping businesses support their families.

In conclusion, although tourism brings jobs and economic benefits, I believe its environmental and social problems should not be ignored. Governments should manage tourism carefully to protect local communities and the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. Your ideas regarding environmental pollution and cultural impact are relevant and supported with logical explanations. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the discussion on cultural impact could be strengthened by providing a more specific example rather than general statements about price increases. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting arguments are more deeply explored and nuanced, moving beyond simple cause-and-effect relationships to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the complexities involved in tourism management.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'As a result' to connect your thoughts effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and helps the reader follow your argument. To improve, try to vary your linking words further and ensure that the transition between the counter-argument in the third paragraph and your main point is even smoother to enhance the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant economic benefits', 'popular tourist destinations', and 'environmental damage' correctly. The language is clear and appropriate for an academic context. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'large number of' and 'tourists'. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items and collocations related to the topic, such as 'sustainable tourism', 'socio-economic impact', or 'cultural erosion', to show greater precision and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with good control. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally accurate, which ensures that your meaning is always clear. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over your writing style.

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