Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-03

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 6.5)

Ecosystems have been affected for a long period of time by us, humans. It has really disturbed the whole environment. But nowadays, people are being more serious about how to protect the environment, and they now choose to travel eco-friendly. So, now people are being responsible and using environmentally friendly ways to protect the environment.

One major advantage of eco-tourism is that it can encourage the conservation of natural areas. When tourists visit national parks, wildlife reserves and other protected regions, part of their spending can be used to maintain these places and protect endangered species. Furthermore, eco-tourism can raise people's awareness of environmental issues. For example, visitors who participate in guided nature walks may learn about local wildlife and the importance of protecting forests and habitats. This can encourage them to adopt more environmentally responsible habits in their daily lives.

Another important benefit is the positive effect on local communities. Eco-tourism can create employment opportunities for local people as tour guides, hotel workers and small-business owners. It can also provide an alternative source of income to activities that may harm the environment, such as excessive logging or hunting. In this way, communities can benefit financially while having a greater incentive to preserve their natural surroundings.

However, eco-tourism is not completely free from problems. A large number of visitors can still produce waste, consume water and disturb wildlife, even when they intend to travel responsibly. In addition, poorly managed tourist facilities may cause damage to fragile ecosystems. Therefore, governments and tourism companies should establish appropriate regulations, such as limiting visitor numbers and ensuring that tourism businesses follow environmental standards.

In conclusion, I believe that the expansion of eco-tourism is predominantly a positive development because it can support conservation and improve the livelihoods of local communities. Nevertheless, its environmental benefits will depend on careful planning and responsible management.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the positive aspects of eco-tourism, such as wildlife conservation and community benefits, and acknowledging the negative impacts. A clear position is maintained throughout, culminating in a balanced conclusion. The ideas are generally extended and supported, such as when the writer explains how tourist spending helps maintain protected regions and provides alternative incomes like working as tour guides. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise in the opening paragraph, and some arguments could be extended further to reach a higher level of development. The main body paragraphs present relevant ideas clearly, though certain points lack deeper elaboration, keeping the development solid but not fully comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently linked, making the essay easy to follow from the introduction through the well-defined body paragraphs to the conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic, such as natural conservation, community impact, or potential problems. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, featuring transitions like 'Furthermore', 'Another important benefit', and 'However'. However, some of the referencing and cohesive links are slightly mechanical, and the introductory paragraph relies on somewhat repetitive phrasing rather than smooth, advanced cohesive ties, which reflects the characteristics of this level.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The writer uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms related to the environment, such as 'endangered species', 'fragile ecosystems', 'wildlife reserves', and 'sustainable'. There are also successful attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'conservation' and 'excessive logging'. However, the lexical range lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. There are some minor word-choice and repetitive tendencies, particularly in the opening paragraph where terms like 'protect the environment' are overused. Despite these occasional limitations and minor inaccuracies in style and collocation, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points without impeding the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like relative clauses ('visitors who participate in guided nature walks') and conditional phrasing. There is good control over punctuation and basic sentence grammar. Some errors persist, particularly with article usage and prepositional phrases inside grammatical patterns, such as the slightly repetitive and simplistic sentence structures found in the opening paragraph. Nevertheless, the grammatical errors are sporadic and rarely impede communication. The majority of the complex structures are constructed well enough to convey the intended meanings clearly, meeting the expectations for a balanced control of grammar.

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