Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-31

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 7.5)

Picture are considered a powerful form of communication because they can convey any message quickly and clearly. However, I believe that while images are powerful in some situations, words are still more effective for expressing complex ideas and detailed information.

The most important reason regarding why pictures can be more effective than words is images are universal and can create an immediate emotional impact. By this I mean that it can be understood by people regardless of their language ability. To add to this, a single picture can show emotions, situations, or problems instantly. Also, visual information is often easier to remember than written descriptions. For instance, a photograph of a war victim can make people understand the suffering of civilians more strongly than a written report.

Nevertheless, words remain essential because they allow people to communicate complex ideas accurately. The foremost reason for this view is written language allows people to explain causes, opinions, details and solutions.

The reason being, many academic and social issues require detailed explanations and this can only be explained by words not picture. For example, a photo of climate change effects may show melting ice, but an article can explain the cause, consequences, and possible solutions.

In many cases, the combination of visual and written communication produces the strongest impact. The crucial reason behind this view is visuals attracts attention, while words provide context. This means, together they improve understanding and persuasion.

In conclusion, although pictures can be more effective in attracting attention and creating emotional responses, words are superior for conveying detailed and complex messages. Therefore, the most successful communication usually involves a combination of both.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided a balanced view, acknowledging the power of images while arguing for the necessity of words for complex communication. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the example regarding climate change, which effectively illustrates the limitation of visuals alone. To reach a higher band, ensure that every paragraph fully explores the implications of your arguments; for instance, the paragraph on emotional impact could be slightly more extended to fully justify why that specific aspect is 'more effective' than words in that context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Nevertheless', 'The foremost reason', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as starting multiple paragraphs with 'The most important reason' or 'The crucial reason'. Improving the variety of these linking phrases would enhance the flow and make the progression of ideas feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'universal', 'emotional impact', and 'conveying detailed and complex messages' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'visuals attracts attention' (should be 'attract') and 'this can only be explained by words not picture' (should be 'pictures'). While these do not impede communication, using a wider variety of less common lexical items would help elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'Picture are considered' (should be 'Pictures are') and 'this can only be explained by words not picture' (should be 'pictures'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and agreement errors throughout. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your argument. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and pluralization, as these are the most frequent issues in your writing.

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