Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-07

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 6.0)

In recent years, an increasing number of tourists have started visiting extreme destinations such as the Sahara Desert and the Antartica, despite their challenging conditions. While travelling to these location can provide significant benefits and create employment opportunities, It can also have negative impacts on the environment and local ecosystems.

One of the main advantages of tourism in remote areas is the economic boost it provides to local communities. When tourist visit these location they spend money on several things such as accommodation, food, transportation , which helps local generate income for local communities. As a result, more employment opportunities are created for local people in tourism sector and boost the country's economy. For example, In desert regions, local people can work as a tour guide, drivers allowing them to improve their standard of living.

On the other hand, Tourism has several consequences like wildlife habitats get affected and tourist produce more waste which can cause serious environmental problems. The construction of roads, hotels can damage the forest and natural habitat for wildlife animals. For instance, Antartica is very sensitive place and large number of visitor could negatively effect marine animals and especially the penguin and the surrounding the environment. However, government should create strict rules so visitors don't damage the tourist places and treat it like a home.

In conclusion, Tourist brings money , but it must be in a controlled way. Although, it boost economy and create employment opportunities for locals, it damages the wildlife habitat also. If this is done in controlled and balanced way then it's beneficial for the country and the locals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt—benefits and disadvantages—by discussing economic growth and environmental degradation. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the discussion on economic benefits is repetitive, focusing mainly on employment, and the environmental section could be strengthened with more specific examples beyond just mentioning penguins. While the task is fully addressed, the depth of analysis is consistent with a Band 6.0, as some points are slightly under-developed and the arguments remain at a general level rather than providing a more nuanced exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion,' though some transitions are mechanical or slightly repetitive. There are instances where referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'it must be in a controlled way' in the conclusion, where the pronoun 'it' lacks a precise antecedent. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the benefits from the disadvantages, which helps the reader follow the argument. Overall, the progression of ideas is coherent, though the flow could be improved with more varied linking phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'ecosystems,' 'remote areas,' and 'environmental degradation.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'local generate income' (should be 'locals generate') and 'tourist places' (which is slightly simplistic). The range is sufficient to discuss the topic, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Spelling errors, such as 'Antartica' (Antarctica), also occur, though they do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('tourist visit,' 'tourist produce') and article usage ('in tourism sector'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and missing articles before nouns. While the student attempts complex sentences, these often contain errors that slightly distract the reader. The control of grammar is sufficient for communication, but the frequency of errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score.

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