Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
The ease of international travel and the spread of various kinds of mass media all over the world have made it more possible than ever for people to know how other people live in other countries.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. Write at least 250 words.
Student answer (Band 4.5)
Visiting other countries lets people experience new traditions,languages,and unique foods firsthand.
Tourism brings money to host countries creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
Flight and mass tourism increases carbon emissions air pollution and local waste.
Popular tourism spots often raise prices for housing and food hurting local residents.
High cost for flights visas and hotels make international trips flights for many people to afford.
Stepping outside one’s home country challenge old beliefs and build global tolerance.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, containing only 76 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have identified some relevant points regarding the advantages (cultural exchange, economic benefits) and disadvantages (environmental impact, cost, gentrification) of international travel, these ideas are presented as a list of bullet points rather than a cohesive essay. There is no introduction, no clear position statement, and no development or supporting evidence for the arguments provided. To improve, you must expand each point into a full paragraph with detailed explanations and examples, ensuring the total length meets the minimum requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks a logical structure or paragraphing. It is presented as a series of disconnected sentences rather than an essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a complete absence of cohesive devices (such as 'furthermore', 'however', or 'consequently') to link ideas together. The progression of ideas is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow a clear argument. To improve, you should group related ideas into paragraphs and use transition words to connect your sentences and arguments logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, consisting mostly of simple nouns and verbs. While the words are generally accurate in their meaning, there is no attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary or more sophisticated collocations that would be expected at a higher level. For example, phrases like 'popular tourism spots' and 'build global tolerance' are functional but lack variety. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more academic vocabulary and precise terminology related to the topic of globalization and tourism.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response consists almost entirely of simple sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses, conditional sentences, or passive voice, which are necessary to demonstrate a higher level of grammatical control. There are also minor errors in punctuation and grammar, such as the missing comma in 'traditions,languages,and' and the awkward phrasing in 'international trips flights for many people to afford'. To improve, focus on combining simple sentences into complex ones using conjunctions and relative pronouns, and ensure consistent subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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