Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01

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 6.5)

Nowadays, television and newspapers have started showing pictures along with news stories. According to some individuals, such pictures have a lasting impact on viewers more than words. In my opinion, it is true to some extent, because it is time-saving and helps you understand the context without understanding the full story.

It is considered by many that news stories accompanied by images are more effective than reading long paragraphs in a newspaper or watching headlines on TV. It is due to the fact that people often want to understand the meaning behind the entire context. For instance, some elderly people prefer an image associated with the news rather than skimming through the newspaper.

As far as I am concerned, I consider it to be a positive development. It not only helps people comprehend the central idea of the theme but also saves a lot of time, which could be used elsewhere. For example, you can tell if it is about a murder or an accident news story just by looking at the picture.

However, I also agree that oftentimes images can be misunderstood; therefore, words have a powerful impact when it comes to broadcasting the news. In particular, child abuse might be overlooked if you only happen to see the picture without trying to understand the backstory equivocally.

In conclusion, while images play a huge role in letting the spectators grasp the highlights of breaking news, the words still hold the power to convey the accurate message authentically without any ambiguity. Whilst I strongly feel that pictures can stay as a visual memory for a significantly long time, I submit that the full idea must be understood through wording.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided a balanced view, acknowledging the effectiveness of images while also highlighting the necessity of text for accuracy. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of elderly readers and the potential for misunderstanding sensitive topics like child abuse. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are slightly more detailed; for instance, the example regarding 'murder or accident' is a bit brief. Overall, the development is logical and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In my opinion,' 'As far as I am concerned,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For example, the shift between the benefits of images and the limitations of images is clear, but could be linked with more varied cohesive markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. You use some good collocations and topic-specific terms like 'visual memory,' 'breaking news,' and 'ambiguity.' However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'understand the backstory equivocally,' where 'equivocally' does not fit the intended meaning of 'thoroughly' or 'accurately.' To improve, focus on using less common lexical items with greater precision. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the consistent sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show good control over grammar, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. There are no significant errors that impede communication. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'While images play a huge role... the words still hold the power...' and 'It not only helps... but also saves...'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or more varied passive constructions, while maintaining your current level of accuracy.

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

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