Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 today's modern era people are more fascinated to explore different geographical regions. Sometimes few locations are not better due to its own feature. For instance, Sahara desert or the Antarctic are an areas with different temperature. In my opinion, to visit such places proper guidance is required because of its challenging conditions.

As if, we consider the benefits of Sahara desert or the Antarctic the tourists will gain the unique experience. They can see landscape and wildlife that are very distinct from ordinary destination. Moreover, individuals can do the activities such as desert safaris, camping. Both places offer spectacular scenery and opportunities for photography. Tourists can learn about different ecosystems, cultures, and environment.

On the other hand, Sahara desert or the Antarctic also has many kinds of drawbacks like Sahara desert has extremely hot weather while the Antarctic has extremely cold weather. The travelling to such remote locations can be expensive. Moreover, the

accommodation, food, transportation, and medical services may be limited. Furthermore, harsh weather and remote locations can make travel risky.

Although, these places offer tourists unique and adventurous experience, their extreme weather, high travel cost and limited facilities can make them challenging destination. As I visited last year, to the Antarctic, the penguins and huge icebergs as an unforgettable experience. However, the extremely cold weather conditions and long journey made the trip physically demanding. Two weeks ago, I visited the Sahara Desert. I enjoyed riding a camel and watching the sunset, but I found the extreme heat and lack of basic facilities quite challenging.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both the benefits and disadvantages of visiting extreme environments. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are relevant. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention benefits like unique experiences and scenery, and drawbacks like cost and safety, these points could be expanded with more depth or specific examples beyond your personal anecdotes. The introduction is a bit vague regarding the 'features' of the locations. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully explored with detailed reasoning rather than just listing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentence structures are a bit disjointed, which affects the overall progression. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences within paragraphs flow more naturally into one another would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'ecosystems', 'spectacular scenery', and 'physically demanding'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'people are more fascinated to explore' (should be 'more interested in exploring') and 'locations are not better due to its own feature'. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Attempting to use more sophisticated collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the Sahara desert', 'the Antarctic'), subject-verb agreement ('Sahara desert or the Antarctic also has'), and preposition usage. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some awkward phrasings that slightly impede the flow. To improve, focus on mastering basic grammatical rules such as article usage and pluralization, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures with greater accuracy to demonstrate better control over your writing.

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