Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05

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)

People in some countries are more interested in getting to know about the history of the houses they are living in. There might be several reasons for doing it

In my point of view, people might like to know about the people living in the property they are residing in now, or they want to know if there is any sentimental value attached to the property by the previous residents. There is another reason as well, and that is to know when the building was built and how much maintenance it will need in the future. Some people like to know the history to figure out the hike in the property prices

I remember around 10 years ago when I bought a house; I found a hidden staircase going into the basement from the wardrobe, and I was surprised about it. I felt a need to figure out the people who lived in the building before me and why they felt a need to have a hidden way. later i got to know that the previous owner was a police officer and he sometimes needed a hidden way to hide from criminals

If someone is keen to find out the history of the building, they can contact the real estate agents because they are usually the people who know information about how and when someone bought the house. Moreover, if you need to go in the details of how the house was built, you can contact the local council as they keep all necessary information

In conclusion, as a lot of people are getting interested in getting to know the history of buildings they live in, they can use several ways to do it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for interest in building history and methods for research. However, the development is somewhat limited. While the reasons provided (sentimental value, maintenance, property prices) are relevant, they are presented in a list-like fashion without deep exploration. The personal anecdote about the hidden staircase is a good attempt at support, but it is not fully linked back to the broader societal trend mentioned in the prompt. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' behind these reasons and ensure the research methods are described with more detail and sophistication.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt, and the conclusion is quite brief. There is a reliance on simple linking words like 'moreover' and 'in conclusion'. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in light of this') and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is smoother and more interconnected.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You use common phrases like 'getting to know' and 'figure out' repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of the writing. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'property prices' and 'real estate agents', but the overall range is somewhat narrow. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. For instance, instead of 'figure out', consider 'ascertain' or 'investigate'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'go in the details' (should be 'go into') and 'later i got to know' (capitalization and phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing periods at the end of sentences. The control of complex structures is present but not always accurate. To improve, focus on proofreading for minor errors in prepositions and sentence boundaries, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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