Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-22

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 6.5)

International travel and the widespread use of mass media have made it much easier for people to learn about the lifestyles and cultures of people in other countries. Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe that its advantages are greater.

One major advantage is that people can develop a better understanding of different cultures. Travelling allows individuals to experience other countries directly, while television, social media and online videos can provide information about foreign lifestyles without requiring people to travel. For example, a person in Pakistan can learn about Japanese traditions, food and daily life through documentaries or online content. This greater cultural awareness can help reduce misunderstandings and negative stereotypes between people from different backgrounds.

Another benefit is that people can learn from the experiences of other societies. Through international media, individuals can discover different approaches to education, healthcare, environmental protection and work. For instance, people may learn about successful environmental practices in another country and become more aware of environmental issues in their own society. International travel can also create opportunities for people to communicate directly with foreigners and develop broader perspectives.

However, there are some disadvantages. Information presented through mass media is not always accurate or balanced. Social media, in particular, may show an unrealistic picture of life in another country, because people often share only the positive aspects of their lives. As a result, viewers may develop false expectations about foreign societies. In addition, large numbers of tourists can sometimes put pressure on local environments and traditional communities.

Nevertheless, I believe the advantages outweigh these disadvantages. Access to information about other societies can encourage cultural understanding, reduce prejudice and allow people to learn from different ways of life. The negative effects can also be reduced if people critically evaluate the information they receive.

In conclusion, international travel and mass media can sometimes create unrealistic impressions and cause cultural or environmental problems. However, their ability to increase cultural understanding and expose people to different ideas makes this development more beneficial overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of international travel and mass media in relation to cultural awareness and knowledge sharing. A clear position is established in the introduction and maintained consistently throughout the essay. The student presents well-developed ideas, supporting them with relevant examples, such as how a person in Pakistan can learn about Japanese traditions through documentaries, and mentioning specific societal domains like education and healthcare. The arguments are logical, extended, and directly target the prompt's question of whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, the performance aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and a logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, moving to two advantage paragraphs, a disadvantage paragraph, and ending with a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', 'However', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. While referencing and linking are occasionally standard rather than sophisticated, the overall structure and cohesion firmly support a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, suitable for an academic task. Words and phrases like 'widespread use', 'cultural awareness', 'negative stereotypes', 'environmental protection', and 'critically evaluate' show an ability to use less common items with an awareness of style and collocation. There are very few lexical errors, and communication is smooth throughout. Although it does not consistently display the highly sophisticated or rare idiomatic control required for higher bands, the vocabulary deployed easily meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer utilizes a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial elements (e.g., 'without requiring people to travel', 'because people often share only the positive aspects'). There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and grammar and punctuation are generally well-controlled. While the sentence structures are somewhat straightforward compared to the sophisticated syntactic variety of a Band 8, the control exhibited over complex forms and the minimal presence of errors comfortably support a Band 7 score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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