Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-02

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 plays an important role in the economy of many countries. However, I agree that the negative effects of tourism on local cultures and the environment are sometimes ignored. In my opinion, tourism has both benefits and disadvantages, but its harmful effects can be very serious if it is not managed properly.

Firstly, tourism can damage the natural environment in many ways. A large number of tourists produce more rubbish, use more water and increase pollution. Popular beaches and mountains can become dirty because visitors do not always follow environmental rules. For example, some famous tourist places in Asia have faced problems with plastic waste and overcrowding. Building hotels and roads can also destroy forests and natural habitats.

Secondly, tourism may have a negative effect on local cultures. When too many tourists visit a place, traditional customs can sometimes become commercialized. Local people may change their traditions only to attract visitors and earn money. In some cases, young people may also lose interest in their own culture because they prefer foreign lifestyles.

On the other hand, tourism provides jobs and brings valuable income to local communities. It can also encourage governments to protect historical buildings and cultural sites. For example, many countries earn a significant amount of money from tourists visiting historical places.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that tourism can cause damage to the environment and local cultures. Although it has many economic benefits, governments and tourists should take more responsibility to reduce these negative effects and protect important places for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that acknowledges both the benefits and the significant negative impacts of tourism. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of plastic waste in Asia and the commercialization of traditions. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, the essay could benefit from more nuanced exploration of the 'extent' of the agreement, perhaps by discussing how sustainable tourism models might mitigate these issues more deeply, rather than just stating that governments should take responsibility.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the negative impacts and the economic benefits is handled well using the phrase 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'For example' are used effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the relationship between sentences is clear. To improve, the writer could use a wider variety of cohesive devices to avoid a slightly mechanical feel, as the current structure relies heavily on standard sequence markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of ideas. The writer uses topic-specific terms like 'commercialized', 'natural habitats', and 'valuable income'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on fairly common vocabulary. To achieve a higher score, the writer should aim to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items. For instance, instead of 'negative effects', using 'detrimental consequences' or 'adverse impacts' would demonstrate a higher level of lexical precision and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is used correctly. There are no major errors that impede communication. The writer shows control over basic and intermediate structures, such as conditional-like statements ('if it is not managed properly') and relative clauses. To move into the higher bands, the writer should attempt a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more sophisticated passive constructions, and ensure that the control over these structures remains consistent throughout the text.

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