Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-07-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Concern for the environment is growing rapidly and more and more people are choosing to be 'eco-tourists' - travelling in responsible, environmentally-friendly ways. As a result, the eco-tourism industry is expanding.

To what extent do you think this is a positive trend?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Due to the concern for the environment, an increasing number of travelers decide to travel in an environmentally-friendly way. While this switch may make travel less interesting, I believe that it is an overall positive trend.

First and foremost, it must be admitted that economic growth is usually at odds with maintaining a sustainable environment. Traveling in an environmentally-friendly way requires holidaymakers to hold their excitement back, causing them to be unable to experience many activities, such as cooking on the top of a mountain or hunting even in designated areas. In addition, air travel bears the most responsibility for various environmental issues as it causes a greater amount of greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide, than traveling by cars or public transportation. On the individual level, though, not everyone can accept spending long hours with less space on the road.

Nevertheless, these downsides of eco-tourism can be effortlessly turned into advantages if the general public is willing to perceive the whole process in a new light. For instance, they can spend more quality time with family members enjoying the breathtaking scenery on the road, and a sense of fulfillment triggered by the action of being responsible for the environment may bring new experience to travelers. Moreover, this new way of travel can slow down the process of global warming and other problems we are facing, and a better weather pattern and cleaner environment will ultimately benefit humanity.

In conclusion, while the eco-tourism industry may have a few negative impacts on holidaymakers' experiences, its advantages are more profound because traveling in a new way and better environment can both directly and indirectly bring happiness to travelers. Thus, I firmly believe that this is a positive trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified both the potential drawbacks (e.g., limitations on activities and travel comfort) and the benefits (e.g., environmental preservation and quality time). The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported. However, the development could be more nuanced; for instance, the claim that eco-tourism makes travel 'less interesting' is a subjective generalization that could be further explored with more concrete examples of how the industry is innovating to maintain interest. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', 'Nevertheless', and 'Moreover' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the counter-arguments from your own perspective. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'at odds with', 'breathtaking scenery', and 'profound' show a good command of language. There are some minor collocations that could be improved, such as 'better weather pattern' (which is slightly vague) and 'hold their excitement back' (which is a bit informal). However, the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the context, and there are no errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations related to environmental sustainability.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. For example, the use of conditional-like structures and complex noun phrases shows good flexibility. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not interfere with the clarity of your argument. The sentence construction is varied, which helps maintain the reader's interest. Continued focus on refining complex sentence structures will help you achieve an even higher level of grammatical sophistication.

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