Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-22

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 7.5)

The rapid growth of eco-tourism reflects a growing awareness of the environmental consequences of travel. Increasingly, tourists are choosing to minimise their ecological footprint by staying in sustainable accommodation, supporting local communities and engaging in environmentally responsible activities. I consider this a highly positive trend, although its benefits depend on tourism being carefully managed.

One of the principal advantages of eco-tourism is its potential to protect natural environments. Conventional mass tourism can place enormous pressure on ecosystems through excessive consumption of water and energy, pollution, habitat destruction and disturbance to wildlife. Eco-tourism, by contrast, encourages practices such as limiting visitor numbers, reducing waste and protecting sensitive habitats. For instance, national parks can charge visitors entrance fees and use the resulting revenue to fund wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Tourism can therefore become a source of funding for environmental protection rather than a cause of environmental degradation.

Eco-tourism can also generate substantial benefits for local communities. Small businesses, including locally owned hotels, restaurants, transport services and tour companies, can earn income directly from visitors. This is particularly valuable in rural or economically disadvantaged regions where employment opportunities may be scarce. More importantly, when communities realise that their natural environment can provide a sustainable source of income, they have a greater financial incentive to preserve forests, wildlife and coastal areas. Eco-tourism can consequently align economic development with conservation.

Nevertheless, the expansion of eco-tourism can create unintended problems. Even travellers who intend to behave responsibly can contribute to overcrowding, waste and resource depletion if large numbers visit the same destination. In addition, some businesses may exaggerate their environmental credentials in order to attract environmentally conscious consumers, a practice commonly known as greenwashing. Strict environmental standards and effective monitoring are therefore essential to ensure that eco-tourism delivers genuine benefits.

In conclusion, I believe the expansion of eco-tourism is a strongly positive development because it can protect natural ecosystems, support local economies and encourage more responsible attitudes towards travel. However, these advantages can only be sustained if governments and tourism providers ensure that environmental claims are genuine and that visitor numbers remain within the capacity of local ecosystems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing the positive aspects of eco-tourism while acknowledging necessary conditions and potential drawbacks. The writer establishes a very clear position right from the introduction, stating, 'I consider this a highly positive trend, although its benefits depend on tourism being carefully managed.' Ideas are well developed throughout the body paragraphs, supported by relevant and detailed examples such as national park entrance fees funding conservation and local small businesses earning income. The progression of ideas logically builds toward a balanced and well-reasoned conclusion that restates the conditional nature of these benefits. The performance clearly satisfies the Band 8 descriptor for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Coherence and cohesion are managed skilfully throughout the essay. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, beginning with a strong introduction, moving through two well-supported positive aspects, addressing a counter-argument paragraph regarding risks like greenwashing, and finishing with a clear summary. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the principal advantages', 'by contrast', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless' are used naturally and flexibly to guide the reader through the argumentation. Paragraphing is used appropriately and sufficiently, with each paragraph having a clear central topic. The referencing and substitution throughout the text are smooth, resulting in an essay that flows effortlessly from start to finish, aligning with Band 8 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task on the environment. Less common and precise lexical items are used skilfully, including 'ecological footprint', 'sustainable accommodation', 'excessive consumption', 'habitat destruction', 'economically disadvantaged regions', and 'greenwashing'. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate throughout. There are only occasional minor limitations, but overall the control of vocabulary is strong. The lexical range allows the writer to convey precise meanings effortlessly, making a Band 8 score well-deserved.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing complex constructions such as participial phrases ('stこうstaying in sustainable accommodation, supporting local communities...') and conditional or concessive clauses ('Even travellers who intend to behave responsibly can contribute to overcrowding...'). Control of grammar, punctuation, and tense consistency is excellent throughout the text, with only very occasional, non-systematic slips. The grammatical range allows for fluid and sophisticated expression of complex ideas, comfortably meeting the criteria for a Band 8 rating.

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