Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13

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)

News stories on television and in newspapers are often accompanied by pictures to help people understand what has happened. Some people believe that pictures are more effective than words. I partly agree with this view because images can communicate information quickly and create a strong emotional impact, although words are still necessary to provide details and context.

Firstly, pictures can help people understand a situation much faster than written descriptions. A single image can immediately show the scale of an accident, a natural disaster or a public event. For example, photographs of a flood can clearly demonstrate how badly homes and roads have been damaged. This may be more effective than reading several paragraphs describing the same situation.

Secondly, pictures can create a stronger emotional response. When people see photographs of people affected by a war or natural disaster, they may feel sympathy and become more interested in the story. For instance, an image showing families who have lost their homes can make the consequences of a disaster feel more real and personal.

However, pictures cannot always explain the complete story. Words are essential for providing background information, statistics, causes and opinions. A photograph of a protest, for example, may show a large crowd, but it cannot explain why the people are protesting or what the government has decided. Therefore, relying only on pictures could lead to misunderstandings.

In my opinion, pictures and words are most effective when they are used together. Pictures attract people's attention and help them understand the main situation quickly, while written information provides the necessary details and context. Therefore, neither should completely replace the other in news reporting.

In conclusion, pictures can sometimes be more powerful than words because they communicate information quickly and create emotional reactions. Nevertheless, words remain essential for explaining the full meaning of a news story, so both should be used together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Each body paragraph provides relevant, well-supported arguments. For instance, you effectively contrast the immediate impact of images with the necessity of words for context, such as in your example of a protest. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements. The conclusion effectively synthesises your main points, ensuring the response is balanced and comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'Therefore' to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. Referencing is consistent, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'emotional impact', 'provide details and context', and 'lead to misunderstandings' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations to add nuance. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'When people see photographs of people affected by a war or natural disaster, they may feel sympathy and become more interested in the story.' Punctuation is accurate, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. There is a consistent level of control throughout the text. While the range of complex structures is solid, further variety in sentence patterns could enhance the sophistication of the writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.