Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

It has been observed that in some countries, there has been a rise in the general population on knowing about the past of the place that they tend to settle in. This essay will explain the reasons as well as present some examples below.

In this savvy world, people in general would pretty much lookup or get a background check of the things that they are interested in. Consequently, owning a property and considering to move in is predominantly a big step. there are multiple factors to do so. First and foremost, safety and security is given priority for doing so. Which means, individuals would like to know the infrastructure much more clearly so that they may not get deceived by any blind sides. For instance, a lot of old constructed buildings consist of trap or hidden rooms which the normal public are not aware of. Secondly, it is to ensure the building safety measures and resolve and hazards present. To cite an example, being built decades ago results in the corrosion of the foundation, therefore, further leading to an unsafe environment to live in.

There are multiple sources through which the citizens can have access to such data and become aware. One of the leading source would be the internet. To give an example, one could search through blogs or Wikipedia and find out more about the previous owners of that area. The public library available in the state would serve to this purpose, considering the fact that it contains each and every detail on the happenings of that city.

Inconclusion, there are multiple reasons why one would need to do some research on the land they live on, which can be meticulously achieved through some digging using trustable sources.

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 of research. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the reasons provided—safety and security—are valid but could be expanded with more depth or specific examples beyond general mentions of 'hidden rooms' or 'corrosion'. The explanation of research methods is also quite brief, relying on general statements about the internet and libraries. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed, illustrative examples that demonstrate a deeper engagement with the topic, rather than listing points in a somewhat cursory manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Secondly', and 'Consequently'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'Which means, individuals would like to know...'. Additionally, some sentences feel disconnected, and the flow between ideas could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. You use some informal phrasing, such as 'pretty much lookup' and 'digging', which are not ideal for an academic essay. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'infrastructure' and 'corrosion', there is a reliance on simpler, repetitive language. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding informal or conversational expressions. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express your ideas with greater clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'a rise in the general population on knowing' (should be 'in the general population's interest in knowing') and 'One of the leading source' (should be 'sources'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentence fragments and missing commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of plural nouns. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures while reducing these minor errors will significantly improve your score.

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

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