Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26

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)

Today, an increasing number of tourist are travelling to places with extreme and challenging conditions, such as the Sahara Desert and Antarctica. Although such trips can be difficult and expensive, they offer several benefits to visitors. However, there are significant disadvantages that should be considered.

One major benefit of visiting remote and challenging destination is that tourist can gain unique experience and learn about different environments. For instance, travelling to Antarctica allows people to see glaciers, penguins and other wildlife that cannot be found in most parts of the world. Similarly, visiting the Sahara Desert can provide an opportunity to experience a completely different landscape and learn about the traditional lifestyle of local communities.

Such experience can also increase people's appreciation of nature and encourage them to protect the environment.

On the second hand, there are several disadvantages associated with this type of tourism. The most obvious one is the risk of tourist's health and safety. Extreme temperature, dehydration storms and accidents can cause serious problems, particularly, when medical facilities are far away. In addition, travelling to remote destinations is very expensive because tourists may need a special equipment, guide and transportation. Another concern is the environmental impact. A large number of visitors can disturb wildlife and damage fragile ecosystems, especially in places such as Antarctica.

In conclusion, visiting difficult and remote places can provide unforgettable experiences, improve personal confidence and increase awareness of nature. Nevertheless, the risks, high cost and possible environmental damage mean that such tourism should be carefully planned and responsibly managed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying both benefits and disadvantages of extreme tourism. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are relevant. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, while you mention that such trips increase personal confidence, this point is introduced only in the conclusion rather than being developed in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main idea is fully supported with a clear explanation or a more detailed example. The structure is logical, and the response covers the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the benefits from the disadvantages. You use cohesive devices such as 'For instance,' 'Similarly,' and 'In addition' to link ideas effectively. However, the phrase 'On the second hand' is an incorrect collocation; 'On the other hand' would be the standard expression. While the progression of ideas is generally smooth, the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks could be slightly more sophisticated to improve the overall flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fragile ecosystems,' 'remote destinations,' and 'responsibly managed.' There are some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'tourist' instead of the plural 'tourists' in the first sentence, and 'a special equipment' (equipment is uncountable). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that pluralization and article usage are accurate, which will help you move toward a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'tourist can gain' (should be 'tourists can gain') and 'risk of tourist's health' (should be 'risk to tourists' health'). Additionally, the sentence 'Extreme temperature, dehydration storms and accidents' lacks proper punctuation and clarity. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures will also enhance your score.

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