Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-17

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)

Nowdays, more people are travelling to places with inhospitable conditions, like the Antartic and the Sahara desert. Some of the difficulties those travelers can face are the harsh weather and the poor acess of water and food. However, there are some benefits of visiting those places like untouched views and increase of resilience.

Some of the drawback that people can face in inhospitable places are the poor acess of water and food. In the Sahara desert, the acess of water is really difficult because water and foor are scarce and the logistics of getting it in the middle of the desert are complicated. In this trip, would have to carry the water and food you need for the duration of the trip. For the Antartic, the problem visitors would face is the scarce food logistics and the harsh weather condition with extreme cold and temperatures bellow zero degrees. In both scenarios the complexity of travelling to inhospitable palaces adds up really quick and preaparation could save your life.

On the other hand, travelling to uninhabitable places have some benefits like untouched views and increase of resilience. Travelling to those places is an opportunity to see scenery that has remained exactly the same for thousands of years, unaltered by human hands. Another advantage is facing severe weather conditions or complex logistics develops adaptability and emotional intelligence. Not all people are preapared for those harsh conditions and being able to face those conditions put those travellers in great mental development.

In conclusion, some of the drawbacks of visiting places with harsh conditions are the harsh weather and the poor acess of water and food. Nonetheless, the benefits of visiting those places are untouched views and increase of resilience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both sides of the question and maintain a clear overall position: difficult destinations offer distinctive scenery and personal growth, but involve serious practical and environmental challenges. The Sahara and Antarctic examples make the disadvantages relevant, while the point about scenery remaining “unaltered by human hands” gives one benefit some explanation. However, the benefits are less fully developed than the drawbacks: “increase of resilience” and “emotional intelligence” are asserted without a concrete example of how a trip builds these qualities. Some details also repeat the same concerns about scarce food and water. To strengthen the response, explain each benefit with a specific example and clarify why it matters to tourists.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for disadvantages and benefits, and a conclusion that restates the main points. Signposting such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the shift between sides. The progression within the disadvantages paragraph is also generally logical, moving from the Sahara to the Antarctic. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and repeated references to “those places,” “those conditions,” and “harsh” make the links feel less precise. The conclusion largely repeats the introduction rather than drawing the discussion together. Use more specific referencing and connect each example directly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “inhospitable conditions,” “scarce,” “logistics,” “unaltered,” and “adaptability.” These choices show an attempt to discuss the subject beyond basic terms. However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “Nowdays,” “Antartic,” “acess,” and “preaparation,” and several word combinations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “increase of resilience,” “poor access of water,” and “mental development.” Repetition of “harsh conditions” and “those places” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, “limited access to supplies” and “build resilience” would express your ideas more idiomatically.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “scenery that has remained exactly the same” and a conditional idea about preparation saving lives. Meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “In this trip, would have to carry” lacks a clear subject, while “travelling to uninhabitable places have” has a subject–verb agreement error. In “being able to face those conditions put those travellers,” the subject requires a singular verb, and “the harsh weather condition” needs more accurate number and article use. Review sentence subjects and verb agreement, and make sure each clause has a complete subject and verb. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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