Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-17

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 6.0)

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and provides significant economic benefits to many countries. However, it can also have negative effects on local cultures and the environment. I largely agree that these problems are often ignored.

One major benefit of tourism is that it creates employment and generates income for local people. Tourists spend money on hotels, restaurants, transport and local products, which can improve the economy. For example, popular tourist destinations can provide many jobs for young people and small businesses. However, the rapid growth of tourism can also put pressure on the environment. Large numbers of visitors may produce more waste, use more water and damage natural areas. In some places, forests and beaches are affected by construction and pollution.

Tourism can also influence local cultures. When a large number of tourists visit a traditional community, local customs may gradually change because businesses often focus on what visitors want. Traditional areas may become more commercial, and some cultural practices can lose their original meaning. For instance, local festivals may be changed mainly to attract tourists rather than to preserve their cultural importance.

In conclusion, I agree that the harmful effects of tourism on culture and the environment are sometimes overlooked because economic benefits receive more attention. Nevertheless, tourism can be made more sustainable through better planning, environmental protection and respect for local traditions. This would allow countries to gain economic benefits while protecting their natural and cultural heritage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the economic benefits of tourism and the damage it causes to local cultures and the environment, thereby presenting a clear position throughout the essay. The response includes relevant supporting examples, such as reference to jobs, waste generation, and commercialised local festivals. However, it should be noted that the response contains 244 words, which falls short of the 250-word minimum required by the instructions. Consequently, this minor under-length penalty prevents the score from reaching a higher band. Overall, the ideas are generally well developed, but the word count constraint slightly limits full expansion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs dealing separately with environmental and cultural impacts, and a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'One major benefit', 'However', 'Tourism can also', and 'In conclusion', ensuring that ideas flow smoothly. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to the overall coherence of the text. The only limitation preventing a higher band is a slight reliance on somewhat standard cohesive markers, rather than more sophisticated, subtle linking devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task. Words and phrases such as 'fastest-growing industries', 'economic benefits', 'commercial', and 'natural and cultural heritage' show a competent grasp of topic-specific lection. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, and spelling and word choice are generally accurate, with no errors that impede communication. While the lexical range is sufficient for the task and allows the writer to convey their points clearly, it lacks the broader flexibility and more precise collocation expected at Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over sentence structures. Examples of complex sentences include subordinate clauses such as 'Tourists spend money on hotels, restaurants, transport and local products, which can improve the economy.' and 'When a large number of tourists visit a traditional community, local customs may gradually change...' Grammar and punctuation are handled well, and there are very few errors throughout the text, allowing the reader to follow the arguments effortlessly. The majority of sentences are error-free, which aligns well with the Band 7 descriptor for grammatical control.

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