Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic.

What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

it is fact that today more and more travelers are visiting places such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctica where weather conditions is very and has become increasing common nowadays. While some people believe this trend provides several benefits, other argue that it also has certain drawbacks. this essay will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of this development.

Discussing the benefits, the foremost advantage of travelling and visiting more places where the conditions are very harsh is they become ready for the cold temperatures . This is because individuals can feel fresh and can stay in quite environment where there is less traffic congestions and residents. For example, some individuals visit such places for the meditation in natural surroundings.

Furthermore, another positive aspect is individuals will come out of their comfort zone and can do adventures experience such as camping, hiking and sight seeing. This means that they will learn more about the traditions and cultures and how people live in such unfavorable conditions.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages associated with visiting such places. The most significant drawback is people can not able to access the public transportation. This is due to high temperatures. For instance, in any emergencies situation it will be very difficult to call because of the poor network.

Moreover, places like Antarctic has very cold temperatures where it is very difficult to find the hospitals and pharmacist. Furthermore, many individuals get sick.

In conclusion, Although

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both the benefits and disadvantages of visiting extreme environments. However, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'In conclusion, Although'. This failure to provide a conclusion significantly impacts the development of the argument. Furthermore, the word count is below the 250-word minimum, which is a negative factor. While the ideas regarding 'comfort zones' and 'emergency access' are relevant, they are under-developed. To improve, ensure you complete all sections of the essay and expand on your points with more detailed explanations and specific examples to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the logical progression is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is non-existent, which disrupts the overall structure. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'This is because individuals can feel fresh', where the link between the harsh environment and feeling fresh is not logically explained. To improve, focus on ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that ideas flow logically from one to the next, culminating in a finished conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'adventures experience' instead of 'adventurous experiences' and 'pharmacist' instead of 'pharmacies'. The use of vocabulary is repetitive, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to travel and environmental conditions, and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'it is fact that', 'weather conditions is very', and 'people can not able to access'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that modal verbs are followed by the correct verb forms.

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

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