By English Test Coach · Updated
General Task 2 · Causes and evaluation
Tourism and local culture
An original IELTS practice question with a planning route and a sample answer to learn from.
Aim for at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. Suggested practice level: advanced, not a predicted band.
Your writing task
International tourism can sometimes cause local traditions and cultures to become less distinctive. Why does this happen, and is this a positive or negative development?
How to approach this question
Explain why the change happens and evaluate it separately. Answer both parts explicitly.
Reasons and evaluation: positive/negative and outweigh questions →
Worked example: Separate the cause of cultural change from your judgement of it →
Possible cause: businesses may simplify traditional products or performances to appeal to visitors. Explain why that commercial pressure could change local practices.
Evaluation: tourism can fund cultural activities while also encouraging standardised experiences. Decide which effect matters more and explain the conditions behind your judgement.
These are possible directions, not required opinions or facts to memorise. Develop your own response and check every claim against the task.
A possible plan
- Introduction: identify the change and your overall judgement.
- Body 1: explain the reasons for the change with a plausible example.
- Body 2: evaluate whether it is positive or negative, or whether its advantages outweigh its disadvantages, as the question requires.
- Conclusion: answer both the causes question and the evaluation question.
Vocabulary you can use precisely
Choose language that fits your meaning. You do not need to include every phrase.
- cultural heritage
- Traditions, places and practices passed between generations.
Tourism income may help communities maintain their cultural heritage.
- commercial pressure
- Incentives to change something in order to attract customers or revenue.
Commercial pressure can influence which traditions are presented to visitors.
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