Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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)

In some parts of the world, people are becoming keen to know about the history of the house where they are dwelling. The purpose of this research could be the curiosity to have knowledge who built it and how they built it ,from which they can know its probable age. Researchers can conduct interviews with old people in their locality and collect information from government authorities who regulate building construction.

At first, the curiosity in a person to know about his ancestors who built the house is a pushing factor. This is more titled towards the emotional part of a person with his family and their urge to know everything possible about the house their family lived in. Secondly, they can collect information about the composition of building components through which they can know its strength today and probable life for the future.

To mention about the methods in which researchers can conduct this study could be interviewing old people of the locality who have seen the house since the building phase. This method is easy to conduct and can be performed being present physically in person. Another way could be trying to retrieve information about building, its maps and drawings from authorized government bodies of the country. These bodies maintain databases to store such information, so it can be a more systematic approach.

In conclusion, I think the connection of an individual with their houses and want to know its age drives people to carry out this kind of studies which they can perform through informal interviews and asking in designated authorities.

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. The reasons provided—emotional connection to ancestors and structural integrity—are relevant but remain superficial. The methods mentioned, such as interviewing locals and consulting government databases, are clear but lack depth or specific examples. To reach a higher band, you should expand on these points with more detailed explanations or hypothetical scenarios. For instance, explaining why someone might value structural history for safety or historical preservation would provide a more robust argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main questions. Cohesive devices such as 'At first', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the emotional aspect and the structural aspect in the second paragraph is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'this method', 'such information') is consistently clear will enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'locality', 'composition', and 'databases'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'more titled towards the emotional part' and 'asking in designated authorities'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'asking in', use 'consulting' or 'approaching'. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated synonyms will help you move toward a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'curiosity to have knowledge who built it' (missing 'about'), 'To mention about the methods' (awkward phrasing), and 'carry out this kind of studies' (should be 'these kinds of studies'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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