Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-15
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)
One increasingly pressing issue is that in some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in learning about the history of the house or building they live in. This essay will discuss both reasons and explain how people can find information about their homes. There are several reasons why people want to learn about homes. One particularly pressing concern is that people are curious to know who people live in their home before them. They also want to learn when the house was built, who owned it and how they live in their home. It helps them to feel more connected to their home. In addition, people also want to learn about history and traditions of the neighborhood. Finally, knowing the history can also be useful for them to repair homes. There are too many ways to learn about home. They can check their old records and libraries because these places have a lot of old maps and newspapers which help them to know about the history of home. Furthermore, they can also get information from online because many old records are also available in internet now. They should also talk to old neighbors who know about old owners. Only through sustained efforts can this issue be effectively addressed. People feel interested in learning about homes because they are curious about knowing the history of their homes and want to feel connected to homes. So, they should get information from online, old records, libraries and maps as well as by talking to local residents.
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 essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the interest in building history and the methods for research. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The reasons provided, such as 'curiosity' and 'feeling connected', are mentioned but not fully explored or supported with specific examples or depth. The methods for research are listed briefly without elaboration. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points by explaining the 'why' and 'how' in more detail, perhaps by providing a hypothetical example of how a person might use a local archive or why knowing a building's history specifically aids in renovation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While you use some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'Furthermore', the transitions between sentences feel repetitive. The concluding paragraph is essentially a summary of the previous points and does not add new insight or a final thought. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through your argument more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher score. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing, such as 'learn about' and 'know about', which appear multiple times. There is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary related to history, architecture, or research. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology, such as 'genealogy', 'architectural heritage', 'archival records', or 'investigative research', to demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'who people live in their home' (should be 'who lived in their home') and 'available in internet' (should be 'available on the internet'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall flow. Focusing on proofreading for basic tense consistency and preposition usage would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.