Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24
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 7.5)
It is widely observed that news in newspapers and on TV is supported with relevant images. Although, words are more effective at explaining, informing and providing accuracy, images make the news more engaging, captivating and compelling to the masses, and support evidence-based journalism.
The primary reason journalists make pictures an integral component of the news stories is to make it more convincing. By seeing relevant images, viewers believe the integrity of the news without questioning the source of information. For example, a news report in which a politician is being linked with illegal activities might appear fake unless supported by relevant images which can compel the public to believe that is true. Since it has become quite common to expect pictures to be a part of the news section, people nowadays do not rely on the news where supporting images are missing. Therefore, this practice directly supports evidence-based journalism.
Another contributing factor is that pictures in the news, make the news more engaging and interesting for the viewers. This is because visual representation of the information along with pictures attracts immediate attention from viewers and leaves a deeper impact on them. For instance, news about Argentina winning the FIFA World Cup was presented with pictures of the winning team holding the trophy, which made the news engaging. Furthermore, readers can often grasp the main message of a news story within seconds by looking at an image, which is particularly useful in today's fast-paced lifestyle.
In conclusion, news stories with images has revolutionized mass media and escalated public expectations, which has not only increased news popularity but also strengthened persuasive and compelling power of the news. Therefore, I believe that powerful newstories should use both pictures to create stronger emotional engagement and words to provide an in-depth understanding to the public.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that acknowledges the value of both images and words. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the point regarding the persuasive nature of visual evidence and the efficiency of images in a fast-paced world. The examples provided, such as the politician scenario and the FIFA World Cup, are relevant and effectively support the arguments. The conclusion provides a balanced summary that aligns with the initial position. The response is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.
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 the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'The primary reason', 'Another contributing factor', 'Furthermore', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of the argument is consistent throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The range of vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses some less common items such as 'integral component', 'evidence-based journalism', 'visual representation', and 'fast-paced lifestyle'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and precise, there is room for slightly more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band. The word choices are natural and contribute to the clarity of the message, with no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'Although' clauses and relative clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor slips, such as the subject-verb agreement error in the conclusion ('news stories with images has' should be 'have') and a slight punctuation error in the first paragraph ('Although, words...'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede the reader's understanding of the arguments.
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