Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-08

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 7.0)

Undoubtedly, an increasing number of people are attracted to visit places like the Sahara and Antarctica where conditions for living are difficult. This essay will present both the benefits and drawbacks for tourists travelling to such destinations.

There are numerous advantages for people who want to experience life in the largest desert and the coldest continent. Firstly, individuals will get the opportunity to survive in extreme weather conditions by leaving their comfort zone. During this journey they have an opportunity to educate themselves about wildlife and geography of the local region, for example penguins in the Antarctic. Secondly, tourists can develop a sense of responsibility towards nature. Professional guides often provide knowledge about the weather and how climate change has been affecting these beautiful landscapes which eventually disturbs our ecosystem. Consequently, tourists observe the challenging circumstances of life in these places and become more responsible towards nature.

Visiting such locations is coupled with some disadvantages which are worth considering. One of them is unpredictable weather conditions. Sandstorms in the Sahara and heavy snowfall in the Antarctic can make people stranded there for several days. These remote areas are not connected with the services unlike urban areas. This could not only lead to injuries or give rise to any physical problem but also the rescue can take a considerable amount of time. In addition, limited access to food, medical facilities and the internet is a problem itself. Although ships and tour agencies organizing these invaluable experiences always have enough food supply and medicines, in case of severe illness they do not have professional doctors for patients which delays the treatment. Moreover, these places do not provide internet facilities which disconnect travellers from staying in touch with their families. Therefore, they are not able to update their loved ones with their life situations which creates challenges in locating them in case of any mishap.

In conclusion, it is irrefutable that remote areas such as the Sahara and Antarctica provide opportunities for people to delve into unique experiences which cannot be replicated anywhere else. Nevertheless, unexpected conditions can make survival difficult or make individuals face death related situations and not being able to connect with the outside world to report the live actions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying both benefits and disadvantages of visiting extreme environments. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, such as the mention of educational opportunities and environmental awareness as benefits, and the logistical risks as drawbacks. The position is clear throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples beyond general mentions of the Sahara or Antarctica to further strengthen the depth of the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Consequently', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth, although some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the structure of the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'extreme weather conditions', 'invaluable experiences', and 'delve into' show an awareness of style. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'death related situations' (should be 'life-threatening situations') and 'report the live actions' (should be 'report their status'). However, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over grammar, with only occasional errors. For example, 'can make people stranded' should be 'can leave people stranded', and 'not being able to connect' in the conclusion is a slightly awkward fragment. Despite these minor slips, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control of complex structures is sufficient to support the clear communication of ideas.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.