Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17
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)
It is often noticed that the majority of visitors visit places such as the Sahara Desert or the Antarctic. where the temperature is either too hot or too cold. In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this statement.
One of the main benefits of visiting places with unsuitable temperatures. Firstly, when visitors visit some different locations with extremely hot or cold weather, they can enjoy some adventure activities like skating, climbing and many more in Antarctica. Another benefit is that, with the help of visiting places with unsuitable weather conditions can teach tourists the value of nature, which may encourage them to take steps to save the environment. For example, the Sahara Desert is very dry and hot, which motivates visitors to save water. Therefore, visitors may know the value of nature in their lives.
However, many drawbacks that cannot be overlooked due to high temperatures, individuals sometimes face different kinds of health issues and are unable to explore various places. Visitors not only waste their time but also money. Moreover, some areas do not have hospitals, and visitors may not get proper treatment for their disease. For instance, some areas are not suitable for human beings, and there are no doctors to help patients. Thus, visitors may face health problems.
In conclusion, although there are many advantages, disadvantages cannot be neglected such as facing health issues and not getting proper treatment. Due to the bad weather, people may waste their money as they cannot explore places well.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both the benefits and disadvantages of visiting extreme environments. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'teaching tourists the value of nature' is a good start but lacks depth. The essay structure is clear, but the introduction contains a slight misunderstanding of the prompt, as you state you will discuss the 'advantages and disadvantages of this statement' rather than the topic itself. To improve, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed explanations or concrete examples to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Another benefit', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as the sentence fragment 'One of the main benefits of visiting places with unsuitable temperatures.' which lacks a main verb. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the weather and the 'value of nature' could be more smoothly linked. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help your score.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'unsuitable temperatures', 'environment', and 'proper treatment'. However, there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary, and some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'visiting places with unsuitable weather conditions can teach tourists'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise and sophisticated vocabulary related to travel and environmental challenges, and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as sentence fragments (e.g., 'One of the main benefits of visiting places with unsuitable temperatures.') and issues with article usage and prepositions. Some sentences are also slightly awkward, such as 'visitors may know the value of nature in their lives.' To improve, focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and work on reducing minor errors in punctuation and sentence construction. Increasing the variety of complex structures will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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