Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

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 coverage is to make them more convincing. By seeing relevant images, viewers believe the integrity of the news without questioning the source of information. 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 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.

However, it is important to acknowlege that images alone could be sometimes misleading, as there is a risk of manipulation or sensationalism by ignorant viewers if adequate explanation is not provided in words. Therefore, words are essential to provide accurate information while displaying images.

In conclusion, news stories with images have revolutionized mass media, escalated public expectations, and strengthened the persuasive power of the news. Therefore, I believe that powerful news stories should use both pictures for emotional engagement and words to provide an in-depth understanding to the general populace.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that images and words are both necessary for effective news communication. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the argument regarding visual engagement versus the need for textual accuracy. The example of the FIFA World Cup is relevant and effectively supports the point about immediate impact. The conclusion synthesizes the arguments well, reinforcing the balanced stance taken throughout the essay. The response is fully focused on the topic and maintains a consistent perspective, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of images and the necessity of words is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is varied and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'evidence-based journalism', 'visual representation', 'sensationalism', and 'mass media'. The control of word choice is generally precise, and the language is used naturally to convey complex ideas. While there is one minor spelling error ('acknowlege'), it does not impede communication or detract from the overall quality of the writing. The range is sufficient to demonstrate a high level of lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of both simple and complex sentence structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is consistent. The use of complex structures, such as the conditional-like construction in the final paragraph ('...if adequate explanation is not provided in words'), is accurate. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of the arguments. There are no significant grammatical errors that cause difficulty for the reader, and the overall accuracy is high, consistent with the Band 8 descriptor.

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