Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20

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 6.0)

There has been an ongoing trend of using pictures with news stories. Growing numbers of Newspapers and news channels are switching to use interesting pictures to attract the viewers. In my opinion, although using pictures will reduce the news writing section, it may increase their viewership.

To commence with, the main reason why editors use pictures with stories is that it makes story captivating. To elaborate, since images creates a sense of excitement in human brain, our desire to read the story increases. Moreover, news papers without pictures can give an old test book feeling. With relatable illustrations people are able to understand the news in a better way. Hence, newspaper editors and new program directors prefer to add eye-catching images. To exemplify, nowadays newspapers have large pictures on the front page to attract the readers. They use relatable pictures and design them to create a compelling storyline.

In addition to this, pictures are also a great source of income for the news industry. This means that the news agencies make a deal with brands to promote their products. In return channels and newspaper companies make high profits. Advertising in news channels and newspapers does not only promotes the business but also increases their profits. For example, many popular brands prefer to advertise in the front page of leading newspapers to grow their sales.

To recapitulate, this essay has discussed the reasons such as attracting readers and generating income are the reason why news papers and Tv channels add pictures with news stories. In my opinion, this is a positive development as it increases their sales and helps brands grow their business. This may also have a good impact on the economy as flourishing business will create more jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing why pictures are used in news and providing an opinion. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While you explain why editors use pictures (to attract readers) and the economic benefits, the argument regarding whether they are 'more effective than words' is only partially addressed. You touch upon the idea that they make stories 'captivating' and help with understanding, but this could have been explored in greater depth to fully justify your position. The conclusion is clear, but the focus shifts slightly toward the economic impact of advertising rather than the communicative effectiveness of images versus text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'In addition to this' to link your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, although the link between the effectiveness of pictures and the subsequent paragraph about advertising revenue is somewhat tenuous. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be more tightly connected to improve the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'captivating', 'compelling storyline', and 'flourishing'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'old test book feeling' (likely meaning 'textbook') and 'new program directors' (perhaps 'news program'). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the overall range is somewhat limited, and some phrasing is slightly unnatural. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('images creates', 'does not only promotes') and minor punctuation or article errors ('the news writing section', 'in the front page'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and preposition usage.

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.