Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-27

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)

While tourism provides undeniable economic benefits worldwide, I completely agree that its destructive impacts on indigenous cultures and local ecosystems are frequently overlooked by governments and commercial interests.

The main reason cultural damage goes ignored is that economic prosperity is often prioritized over heritage preservation. As destinations become heavily commercialized to cater to foreign visitors, sacred traditions and authentic customs are often reduced to staged performances or cheap souvenirs. For example, in many popular destinations across Southeast Asia, traditional rituals have been stripped of their spiritual significance and altered purely for visitor entertainment. Furthermore, the rapid rise of international chain hotels and Westernized businesses can erode local languages, dress codes, and social norms, forcing communities to assimilate into global tourism culture at the expense of their heritage.

Similarly, environmental degradation is frequently minimized to sustain profitable tourist numbers. Mass tourism places immense pressure on natural resources and infrastructure, leading to severe pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction. A prominent example is the degradation of marine ecosystems in coastal regions, where over-construction of beach resorts and unchecked water sports have severely damaged coral reefs and marine wildlife. Despite these clear ecological footprints, local authorities often turn a blind eye or delay protective legislation, fearing that strict environmental controls might deter revenue-generating tourists.

In conclusion, the pursuit of rapid economic gain through tourism consistently overshadows the preservation of local traditions and natural environments.Without stricter regulations and a shift toward sustainable, eco-friendly travel practices, the cultural identity and ecological health of popular destinations will

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas regarding cultural erosion and environmental degradation are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of Southeast Asian rituals and marine ecosystem damage. The argument is logical and persuasive. However, the essay ends abruptly mid-sentence in the conclusion, which is a significant omission. While the content is strong, this incomplete ending prevents the task from being fully resolved, which impacts the overall development of the final paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'Despite these clear ecological footprints'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow between the introduction, body paragraphs, and the start of the conclusion is smooth. The main issue is the incomplete final sentence, which disrupts the cohesion of the conclusion. Aside from this, the logical sequencing of arguments is strong and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sophisticated and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'undeniable economic benefits', 'heritage preservation', 'heavily commercialized', and 'ecological footprints' show a high level of lexical control. You use collocations accurately and effectively to convey complex ideas. There is a good balance of academic and topic-specific terminology. The vocabulary is varied and contributes significantly to the clarity and professional tone of the writing. No major errors in word choice were noted.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is generally excellent. You successfully integrate complex ideas into well-structured sentences. The only major grammatical issue is the incomplete sentence at the very end of the essay, which leaves the final thought unfinished. Aside from this, the grammatical accuracy is high, and the structures used are varied and appropriate for an academic task.

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