Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

News stories on TV and in newspapers are very often accompanied by pictures.

Some people say that these pictures are more effective than words.

What is your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Nowadays, technology has played a significant role in providing the news on TV and in newspapers, along with photos. Many individuals believe that providing pictures is more effective than presenting the news through articles alone. I completely agree with this view as pictures can give a clear idea about an incident.

To begin with, a significant number of newspapers and news channels use photographs to display incidents to the public. As a result, it helps to attract more audience to their channel, and that can boost their TRP ratings and enable them to generate more income. Meanwhile, it also helps the audience to understand the news more efficiently and create a visual representation of the situation using their imagination. For example, if the news channel company provide the news with video and graphics, people tend to watch it more interestingly because visual content is often easier to understand than lengthy written descriptions.

Another point worth considering is that a clear picture of the incident can provide more accurate information about what actually happened. In some cases, it can be difficult for readers to fully understand a situation simply by reading an article. However, a photograph can immediately show the location, people involved, and extent of an event. For instance, during a natural disaster such as a flood, a photograph can clearly demonstrate the damage caused to homes and roads, whereas a written article may not give readers the same immediate understanding. Therefore, visual information can make news more informative and easier to comprehend.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that using photographs and other visual content when reporting news is more effective than relying solely on written articles. Pictures can attract a larger audience and, more importantly, help people understand events more clearly and accurately.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all parts of the task and maintained a clear position throughout the response. Your ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of natural disasters to illustrate the effectiveness of visual media. The argument is developed logically, moving from the commercial benefits of using images to the cognitive benefits for the audience. To reach a higher band, ensure that you fully explore the implications of your points; for instance, you could briefly contrast the limitations of text-only news more deeply to further strengthen your argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Meanwhile', 'Another point worth considering', and 'Therefore' to guide the reader through your argument. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. While the paragraphing is effective, ensure that your transitions between sentences remain varied to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the development of your argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'visual representation', 'extent of an event', and 'comprehend' show a good grasp of topic-specific language. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'watch it more interestingly', which is slightly unnatural; 'watch it with more interest' or 'find it more engaging' would be better. You use some less common items effectively, but increasing your use of more sophisticated collocations would help elevate the lexical score further. Overall, your vocabulary is adequate and supports clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'if the news channel company provide' (should be 'provides' for subject-verb agreement). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over your writing.

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