Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-03

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 6.5)

Tourism has taken a turn towards unfriendly areas in the past few decades like the Sahara Dessert or the Antarctic. The living conditions are hostile, bit when the spirit of adventure calls upon the tourist, he answers. The excitement of adventure over rules the fear of adversity.

This form of tourism has its perils. The cost of adventure is sometimes paid with human lives. The harsh weather conditions, diffiuclt living situation can impact health badly, so much so that it can even lead to death sometimes. Serious injuries can be sustained in such areas, and since health facilities are scarce because of remoteness of these areas, these injuries can become deadly. In addition to all this, the government and authorities have to allocate funds to ensure safety of people in such areas when tourism in these areas increases, resulting in lesser funds for a more substantial cause.

Some benefits can also be reaped from tourism in such places. The adversity and difficulty sustained in these areas gives perspective to life. many people claim that they have found meaning in life through the suffering in these areas. They realise the importance of minimalism over consumerism when they survive on essentials only, away from the hustling and bustling citites.

I have lived such an experience that lives like a nightmare, rent-free, in my mind. Frustration and exhaustion from daily mundane life forced me to sign up for a trip in a desert region in Pakistan called Thar. The journey towards the desert was full of fun and singing. I was fascinated to the see the rich culture and the simplicity of the few people we encountered in the first 2 days. On day three, we planned to go to a well in the middle of the dessert. I was walking with the group but then I got distracted by the birds there. I took a few pictures and when I turned to look for my group, they were not there. I shouted a few names, ran for some time but there was no trace of them. There was not a single soul around me, just those birds. I checked my phone but there was no reception. I started crying but then an internal voice calmed me down. I gathered myself, figured out directions with the help of the position of the sun and started walking east as I recalled the well was towards. After an hour of fearful and speedy walking, I could see the well and my group. What a relief! It was horrifying but this experience increased my self esteem, self reliance and confidence.

To conclude, visiting places with dificult conditions has its pros and cons but I definitley recommend it as a once in a lifetime adventure, provided all necessary safety precautions are taken.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both benefits and disadvantages and maintains a clear overall view: despite the risks, the writer recommends this kind of travel when safety precautions are taken. The discussion of danger is supported with relevant points about harsh conditions, injuries, limited medical facilities and public safety costs. The Thar Desert account also gives a vivid, specific example of how a difficult trip can build confidence and self-reliance. However, the benefits are less fully developed than the disadvantages: the claims that hardship gives life perspective and encourages minimalism are asserted rather than explained or illustrated. The point about authorities diverting funds is relevant but could be linked more clearly to tourists’ experience. Develop these ideas with a concrete explanation or example to make the response more consistently well supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to disadvantages, benefits, a personal example and a conclusion. Paragraphing generally helps the reader follow the argument, and the personal narrative progresses chronologically. There is also a clear contrast between risks and rewards. However, the shift from general benefits to the long personal story is abrupt, and the story occupies much more space than the discussion of benefits it is meant to support. Some links are mechanical or imprecise, such as “In addition to all this” and “Some benefits can also be reaped.” The conclusion repeats the broad pros-and-cons position without drawing together the main points. Use clearer transitions to show how the anecdote demonstrates a benefit, and balance the paragraph development more evenly.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a reasonably varied vocabulary for the topic, including “hostile,” “adversity,” “remoteness,” “minimalism,” “consumerism” and “self-reliance.” These choices help convey both the physical risks and the personal rewards of challenging travel. There are also some effective expressions, such as “a once in a lifetime adventure.” However, several spelling errors and awkward or inaccurate word choices reduce precision: “Dessert” for “desert,” “diffiuclt,” “citites,” “dificult” and “definitley” are examples. Some phrases are also unnatural or unclear, including “the adversity and difficulty sustained in these areas” and “the well was towards.” Aim for accurate spelling and more natural collocations, especially when describing hardship and direction, so that the vocabulary is as clear as the ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional phrasing (“when they survive on essentials only”) and longer sentences explaining causes and consequences. Most of the meaning remains clear, and the personal account is generally easy to follow. Some grammatical errors nevertheless appear. For example, “The harsh weather conditions, difficult living situation can impact health” has a number-agreement problem and needs an article or plural form; “I was fascinated to the see” has incorrect word order; and “as I recalled the well was towards” is incomplete and lacks a clear grammatical construction. The opening also has a faulty contrast in “hostile, bit when.” Review articles, agreement and sentence completeness, and proofread punctuation. More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen control without sacrificing the range attempted.

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