Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-16

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 7.5)

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide and generates substantial income for many countries. However, its rapid expansion can have serious consequences for local cultures and the environment. I largely agree that these negative impacts are often overlooked in the pursuit of economic growth.

One major concern is the effect of tourism on local cultures. When large numbers of visitors enter a community, traditional customs and lifestyles can gradually become commercialised. Cultural practices that were once meaningful to residents may be altered or performed mainly for tourists. Moreover, the growing demand for international hotels, restaurants and entertainment can encourage communities to adopt more globalised lifestyles, potentially weakening their cultural identity. For example, traditional festivals in popular tourist destinations are sometimes transformed into commercial attractions rather than being preserved for their original cultural significance.

Tourism can also place considerable pressure on the natural environment. The construction of hotels, resorts and transport infrastructure may lead to deforestation, habitat destruction and excessive consumption of water and energy. In addition, overcrowded destinations often face problems such as littering, air pollution and damage to natural attractions. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable, as large numbers of tourists can contribute to plastic pollution and the degradation of marine ecosystems.

Nevertheless, tourism can also support cultural and environmental preservation. Revenue generated from visitors can fund the protection of historical sites, national parks and wildlife. It can also provide employment and encourage local communities to preserve their heritage.

In conclusion, although tourism provides significant economic benefits, I agree that its cultural and environmental costs are frequently underestimated. Governments should therefore promote sustainable tourism by regulating visitor numbers, protecting vulnerable areas and ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt thoroughly, taking a clear and well-developed position that largely agrees with the idea that tourism's negative impacts on local cultures and the environment are often ignored. The introduction clearly states the writer's stance, and body paragraphs two and three provide well-supported arguments concerning cultural commercialisation and environmental degradation. The inclusion of a counter-argument in the fourth paragraph regarding preservation adds balance and demonstrates thorough consideration of the topic before returning to a firm conclusion. Ideas are extended with appropriate explanations and relevant examples, such as traditional festivals being transformed into commercial attractions, successfully meeting the Band 8 standard for task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is exceptionally well-organised with a clear logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting logically with the cultural impacts, moving to environmental concerns, presenting a balanced counter-perspective, and concluding neatly. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion' are managed naturally and appropriately without appearing mechanical. Paragraphing is used skilfully to separate different strands of the argument, ensuring the reader can follow the writer's line of reasoning with complete ease. This performance clearly aligns with the Band 8 descriptors for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student displays a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on tourism. Words and phrases such as 'substantial income', 'commercialised', 'excessive consumption', 'vulnerable', and 'sustainable tourism' demonstrate skilful use of less common items with a strong awareness of collocation and style. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no lexical errors throughout the essay. The language flows naturally and contributes significantly to the clarity and sophistication of the arguments, fully satisfying the requirements for a Band 8 in lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of control and accuracy. Sentences such as 'When large numbers of visitors enter a community, traditional customs and lifestyles can gradually become commercialised' and 'Governments should therefore promote sustainable tourism by regulating visitor numbers...' showcase structural variety. The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only very occasional, minor issues avoided entirely. Punctuation and tense consistency are well-maintained, placing the grammar comfortably within the Band 8 criteria where the majority of sentences are error-free.

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