Band 7 Example

Question: Are tourist attractions in the countryside more popular than those in the cities?

Idea 1

Yes, Countryside Attractions Are More Welcome
Model Answer
Yes, I agree. Countryside attractions are more peaceful because the number of visitors is controlled, so they don't become too crowded. They are also connected to the natural environment, making them more beautiful. In contrast, city tourist spots are often very crowded and can be stressful to visit.
Yes, I think so. They are just more peaceful and as visitor numbers are controlled so these kinds of places don’t get overcrowded. They are also linked to the natural environment around them so they are much more aesthetically pleasing. As cities have so many people in them, every tourist attraction is absolutely packed, and are stressful places to visit.
Grammar Analysis
Passive voice: "visitor numbers are controlled" Using the passive voice indicates that the control of visitor numbers is caused by external factors, increasing the accuracy and logic of the sentence. Comparative degree: "more peaceful" and "much more aesthetically pleasing" Using the comparative degree to emphasize the differences in tranquility and aesthetics between rural and urban attractions clearly expresses the contrast between the two.
Vocabulary
  • controlled
  • overcrowded
  • natural environment
  • aesthetically pleasing
  • packed
  • stressful

Idea 2

No, City Attractions Are Equally or More Popular
Model Answer
No, I don't think so. City attractions are more conveniently accessible as we don't need a car to reach them, making them more popular. The infrastructure in the countryside often makes it hard to get to places without a car, and it can take a long time to reach them. This is why attractions in the city are usually busier.
No, I don’t think that’s the case really. Attractions in the city have much more convenient access in that we don’t need a car to get to them, and this makes them more popular. The infrastructure in the countryside doesn’t always allow us to get to these places very easily and so, unless we drive, it takes an age to get there. This is why city attractions are often busier.
Grammar Analysis
Comparative form: "more convenient" and "busier" are used to emphasize the differences in convenience and busyness between city attractions and rural attractions. Present participle as reason adverbial: "in that we don’t need a car to get to them" uses the present participle as a reason adverbial to explain the popularity of city attractions, that is, the convenience of transportation. Conditional clause: "unless we drive" uses a conditional clause to point out the limitations of visiting rural attractions, that is, it is difficult to reach them without driving, emphasizing the inconvenience of rural attractions.
Vocabulary
  • convenient access
  • infrastructure
  • allow
  • unless
  • an age