Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-18

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 5.5)

The ease of international travel and awareness about the various kinds of mass media is being used all around the globe that has made possible to understand the culture and lifestyle of the people living in other countries. Although this form of development has certain disadvantages, I believe that its advantages are considerably greater because it provides greater understanding about various form of cultures and people all around globe.

On the one hand, availability of various forms of information and database about different cultures and traditions through mass media has made our life easier to adapt to variant lifestyles. It has made very easy to understand what is going all around world and made our travel experience to abroad at ease. International travel comes with lots of questions but however due to availability of booking through online medium it has made it more convenient. For instance, nowadays you can check various forms of hotels, dorms, villas on distinct apps such as airbnb and do your convenient bookings according to your preferences and taste, you can also check the facilities and structures of your living through mass media which will lead to a smooth international travel.

On the other hand, mass media has made us more aware about the frauds and scams that usually happens to foreigners who travel to international destination. Being much aware about the local information thorugh various forms of media has made it much more easier for every individual to be well aware about the expenses and cost. For instance, if a group of individual travel to international destination be well informed and having enough details will help them not to get scammed by the locals.

In conclusion, although various false informations are also on the mass media but the advantages of various kinds of mass media infromation has ultimately lead to an ease international travel. Therefore, it's advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear in the introduction and conclusion: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. You also give relevant examples, particularly the use of booking apps and media to check accommodation and avoid scams. However, the response does not fully develop the comparison asked for. The first body paragraph mainly explains travel convenience, while the second presents another advantage—protection from fraud—rather than explaining a disadvantage of greater international awareness. The brief reference to false information appears only in the conclusion and is not supported with an example or explanation. To strengthen the response, develop at least one genuine disadvantage and weigh it directly against the benefits, while extending each main idea with clearer reasoning and evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the stages of the response. However, the second body paragraph is introduced as a contrast but continues to describe a benefit, so the progression does not match the stated comparison. Some links are also mechanical or unclear: “but however” is redundant, and the long sentence beginning “For instance, nowadays” joins several points without clear boundaries. Organise the body around distinct advantages and disadvantages, and use clearer sentence breaks and references so each example supports the paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “culture and lifestyle,” “international travel,” “frauds and scams,” and “convenient.” These choices make the general subject clear, and you attempt more specific expressions such as “booking through online medium.” However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise, including “variant lifestyles,” “distinct apps,” “living through mass media,” and “false informations.” Repetition of “various forms” and “all around” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural combinations and precise terms, such as “different lifestyles,” “travel-booking platforms,” and “misinformation.” Check spelling and word forms as well, since errors such as “thorugh” and “infromation” reduce accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “Although this form of development has certain disadvantages” and conditional phrasing in the example about travellers avoiding scams. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For example, the opening sentence has an unclear subject and verb structure (“awareness … is being used … that has made possible”), while “it has made very easy to understand” is missing a grammatical subject or object structure. There are also agreement and article problems in “the frauds and scams that usually happens” and “a group of individual travel.” Practise building shorter, complete sentences first, then combine them accurately using subordinate clauses and check agreement and articles.

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