Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

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)

Today, many people want to know the history of their homes. This trend is growing fast in many countries around the world. Our houses are not just made of simple bricks and walls; they have past lives. People feel a deep emotional connection to the historical roots of their living spaces.

People are curious about old building for several key reasons. First, they want to feel a personal connection to the past. Knowing who lived in your bedroom few years ago makes the house feel very special. Second, old houses have unique stories and architectural secrets. For example, you might find hidden doors or old coins during home repairs. This discovery adds immense emotional value to the property. Finally, popular television shows about history and family roots make people highly curious about their own walls.

Finding these historical answers is much easier than before. First, you can visit local government archives. They keep old property deeps, maps and land records for public viewing. Second, you can search digital databases and old newspapers online. These files show historic pictures and news about your neighborhood from the past. For example, an old news article might reveal that your house was once a local bakery. Lastly, you can talk to elderly neighbors. They hold valuable memories that old documents cannot show. They know unique things that books never write down.

In conclusion, discovering house history satisfies human curiosity and protects local heritage. By using public records and online tools, anyone can easily uncover the beautiful secrets of their home today.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the interest in house history and the methods for researching it. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development is somewhat brief. While the reasons (emotional connection, architectural secrets, media influence) and methods (archives, digital databases, oral history) are identified, they could be expanded with more detailed examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, and the response fulfills all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'Finally', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transitions between some sentences are slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can follow the argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You use some good collocations like 'emotional connection', 'architectural secrets', and 'local heritage'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and word choice issues, such as 'property deeps' (likely meaning 'deeds') and 'books never write down' (which is slightly unnatural). The range is adequate to convey meaning clearly, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for more sophisticated, less common lexical items and ensure precise word choice throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which aids readability. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'old building' (should be plural 'buildings') and 'few years ago' (missing 'a'). Punctuation is generally accurate. While you show good control over basic structures, incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical forms—such as conditional sentences or more varied subordinate clauses—would help demonstrate greater flexibility and accuracy.

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

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