Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-29
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in.
What are the reasons for this?
How can people research this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Nowadays, many people want to know about the history of the house or building they live in. They are interested in learning who lived there before, when it was built and any important event happened there. In this essay we will discuss the reason for this interest and explain how people find this information.
There are many several reasons why people want to know about the history of their house or building. First, they are curious about the past and want to know more about the place where they live in. Some people also want to know if the building is old or has any historical val
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, containing only 107 words. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to address all parts of the task. The introduction is present, and the first body paragraph begins to explore the reasons, but the second part of the prompt—how people can research this—is not addressed at all. Consequently, the ideas are severely underdeveloped, and the response is only a partial attempt at the task. To improve, you must ensure you complete the full essay structure, including addressing every part of the prompt with sufficient supporting detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows a basic attempt at organization with an introduction and the start of a body paragraph. However, because the text is incomplete, it is impossible to judge the overall progression of ideas or the effective use of cohesive devices. The transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is logical, but the lack of further development means there is no cohesive flow across the text. To achieve a higher score, you must complete the essay, ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that ideas are linked using a variety of cohesive devices.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is functional and appropriate for the topic, such as 'curious about the past' and 'historical value'. However, the range is quite limited due to the brevity of the response. There are no significant errors in word choice, but there is also no evidence of the less common or idiomatic vocabulary required for higher band scores. To improve, focus on incorporating more precise academic collocations and synonyms to express your ideas with greater sophistication and variety.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammar is generally accurate in the sentences provided, such as 'Nowadays, many people want to know about the history of the house or building they live in.' There is a minor error in 'any important event happened there,' which should be 'any important events that happened there.' The sentence structures are relatively simple. Because the response is so short, there is no opportunity to demonstrate a wide range of complex grammatical structures. To improve, aim to use a mix of complex and compound sentences and ensure consistent subject-verb agreement.
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