Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09

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 8.0)

Nowadays, an increasing number of tourists are choosing to visit remote destinations with challenging conditions, such as the Sahara Desert and Antarctica. Although such journeys can provide unique experiences and educational benefits, they also involve considerable risks and disadvantages.

One major benefit of visiting these places is the opportunity to experience nature in its most untouched For example, visitors to Antarctica can observe penguins, seals and enormous glaciers, which can increase their awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. In addition, travelling to difficult locations can help people develop confidence because they have to adapt to unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable conditions. Such experiences can also create memorable opportunities that are difficult to obtain through conventional tourism.

However, there are several disadvantages associated with this type of travel. The most significant concern is safety. Extreme temperatures, limited medical facilities and unpredictable weather can put tourists at serious risk. For instance, people travelling across the Sahara may suffer from dehydration or heat exhaustion if they are not properly prepared. Furthermore, travelling to remote areas is generally expensive because specialist equipment, experienced guides and reliable transportation are required. A sudden increase in tourism can disturb wildlife, create waste and damage ecosystems that take many years to recover.

In conclusion, visiting challenging destinations can offer tourists unforgettable experiences, greater knowledge of nature and personal development. Nevertheless, these benefits must be weighed against the risk. Therefore, such tourism should be carefully managed so that people can enjoy these destinations without threatening their natural environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly identifying both benefits (educational value, personal development) and disadvantages (safety risks, environmental impact, high costs). The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of penguins and glaciers in Antarctica and the specific risks of dehydration in the Sahara. The structure is logical, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. The response is balanced and fully meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the disadvantages is handled smoothly using the cohesive device 'However'. The use of linking words such as 'In addition', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore' helps guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the topic. You demonstrate a good range of topic-specific language, such as 'untouched', 'dehydration', 'heat exhaustion', and 'ecosystems'. The word choices are generally precise and contribute to a professional tone. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations could elevate the score further. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the language used is consistently accurate and relevant to the context of extreme tourism.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures. You effectively use conditional and contrastive structures, such as 'Although such journeys can...' and '...so that people can enjoy...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly. There are no major grammatical slips that cause confusion. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with more varied sentence beginnings or more complex subordinate clauses to demonstrate even greater flexibility.

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.