Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-24

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 6.5)

Nowadays, news reports on TV and in newspapers use a lot of pictures, charts, and graphics to show information. Some individuals argue that these photographs are more powerful than written text. I completely agree with this viewpoint because images instantly capture grab public attention and deliver powerful feelings to people around the world.

To begin with, photographs Own a unique ability to Capture instant focus from the audience. In today's rapidly changing world, people rarely have the patience to read lengthy news reports. An attractive picture on display can immediately grab a viewer's interest, they might easily pass by a written title without reading it. Furthermore, images show reality in a way that words cannot easily match. For example, a single picture of a severe flood showing ruined buildings can convey the gravity of the situation instantly, creating worldwide support much faster than a lengthy written article.

Additionally, visual elements are highly effective because they break down language barriers. While text reports require translation to be understood globally, a powerful photograph tells a story that is recognized by everyone worldwide. Anyone, regardless of their nationality or education level, can look at an image and immediately Understand the actual event. Although written details are useful for providing accurate numbers and background facts, it is the visual component that leaves a lasting impression on the human mind and drives public opinion.

In conclusion, I believe that pictures are ultimately more effective than words in News reporting. They serve as a powerful tool for mass communication by securing instant engagement and sharing emotional truths that Overcome language boundaries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task. The student clearly takes a position ("I completely agree with this viewpoint") and maintains it consistently throughout the essay. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of a severe flood showing ruined buildings to illustrate how images convey the gravity of a situation faster than text. The main arguments regarding attention-grabbing and breaking down language barriers are clearly stated and extended logically. The response meets all task requirements effectively, demonstrating a solid understanding of the prompt. Therefore, it fits comfortably into the band 7 descriptor for fully addressing the prompt with a clear position and extended, supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. It follows a traditional four-paragraph structure with an introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, featuring transition words like "To begin with", "Furthermore", and "Additionally". However, there are minor cohesion issues, such as a comma splice in the second paragraph ("...grab a viewer's interest, they might easily pass by...") which reflects slightly faulty mechanical control of conjunctions. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is generally clear throughout the text. These features align well with the band 7 criteria, where logical organisation and flexible use of cohesive devices are demonstrated despite some minor limitations.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as "instantly capture", "gravity of the situation", "language barriers", and "lasting impression". However, there are instances of awkward word choices and capitalization errors, such as "Own a unique ability" and "Capture instant focus". Furthermore, words like "Understand" are capitalized incorrectly in the middle of a sentence. While communication is never impeded, these slips in word choice and control prevent the response from reaching a higher band. The lexical resource displayed is consistent with a band 6, featuring an adequate range that attempts less common vocabulary with occasional errors in word formation and mechanics.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and conditional-like structures successfully (e.g., "While text reports require translation to be understood globally, a powerful photograph tells a story that is recognized by everyone worldwide"). There is a mix of error-free sentences alongside some grammatical and punctuation errors, notably the comma splice in paragraph two ("...viewer's interest, they might...") and stray capitalizations ("Own", "Capture", "Understand"). Nonetheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and do not impede communication. The control of grammar and sentence structures is generally good, supporting a solid band 7 performance where a variety of complex structures are utilized with frequent error-free sentences.

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