Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Tourism has become a major global industry and provides significant economic benefits to many countries. However, I strongly agree that its negative effects on local cultures and the environment are often overlooked.

One major concern is that tourism can have a negative effect on local cultures and traditions. When large numbers of visitors arrive in an area, local communities may change their lifestyles and customs to meet tourists' expectations. Traditional practices can also become commercialized, with cultural activities being performed mainly to entertain visitors rather than to preserve their original meaning. For example, a traditional community may replace local shops and businesses with souvenir stores, international restaurants and other tourist-oriented businesses. Over time, this can weaken the area's original cultural identity.

Another serious problem is the environmental damage caused by mass tourism. Large numbers of tourists generate considerable amounts of waste and increase demand for transportation, hotels, water and other resources. Popular natural attractions can therefore suffer from pollution, overcrowding and damage to wildlife. For instance, beaches that attract thousands of visitors may experience litter and water pollution, while excessive tourism can also damage marine ecosystems. These problems can become particularly serious when local authorities do not have sufficient facilities to manage the large number of visitors.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that the damage tourism can cause to local cultures and the environment is often underestimated. Although tourism provides substantial to economic benefits, governments should regulate the industry carefully to protect cultural traditions and natural resources.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay clearly addresses the prompt and maintains a consistent position throughout. The ideas regarding cultural commercialization and environmental degradation are relevant and well-supported with logical explanations and examples. However, the response falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement (247 words). While the content is high quality, this failure to meet the length constraint necessitates a penalty under Task Achievement, as the development of ideas is slightly truncated by the word count deficiency. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph includes a slightly more detailed concluding sentence or a broader real-world example to comfortably exceed the minimum length.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from cultural impacts to environmental concerns. Cohesive devices such as 'One major concern', 'Another serious problem', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'commercialized', 'cultural identity', 'marine ecosystems', and 'substantial economic benefits' demonstrate a good range of topic-specific language. There is a minor error in the final paragraph ('substantial to economic benefits'), which is a slight slip in collocation. Overall, the vocabulary is used with flexibility and precision, allowing the writer to convey complex ideas effectively without repetition. The range is sufficient to meet the requirements for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'When large numbers of visitors arrive in an area, local communities may change...' and 'These problems can become particularly serious when local authorities do not have...'. The grammar is generally accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage clauses. While there is a minor grammatical slip in the conclusion, the overall control is strong, and the errors do not impede communication or cause any confusion for the reader.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.