Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In some countries, an increasing number of people are interested in

discovering the history of the house or building in which they live. this trend can be attributed to several reasons, and there are various ways in which people can investigate the background of their property.

One major reason is curiosity. People may want to know who lived in their house before them and how the property has changed over time. This can be particularly interesting when the building is old or has architectural features. In addition, learning about the history of a home can help residents feel more connected to their local community and cultural heritage. Some people may also investigate a property's past before buying it, as historical information could reveal previous damage, renovations or changes to the building.

There are several methods of researching this information. Firstly, people can search online databases and government property records, which may provide details about previous owners, construction dates and renovations. Secondly, local libraries and archives can be useful sources because they often contain old newspapers, photographs and maps. People can also speak to long term neighbours or previous owners, who may have personal knowledge and stories about the building. Visiting local historical societies can also provide information.

In conclusion, people are increasingly interested in the history of their homes because they are curious about their property's past and want to understand their local heritage. Online records, archives, historical documents and conversations with previous residents can all help them uncover this information.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and the methods for research. The ideas are relevant and logically presented. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, while you mention 'curiosity' and 'community connection' as reasons, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The response is just over the minimum length, which limits the depth of exploration. To improve, aim to provide more detailed explanations or a concrete example of how researching a house's history has personally impacted someone or a community.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the reasons and the research methods is smooth. The overall structure is coherent, though the use of cohesive devices is somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the relationships between sentences are even more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'architectural features', 'online databases', and 'historical societies' correctly. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic context. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling, and the meaning is always clear. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific academic vocabulary to demonstrate a more flexible range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use relative clauses ('in which they live', 'who may have personal knowledge') and conditional structures effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is mostly correct, although there is a minor error in the introduction where the sentence 'this trend' begins with a lowercase letter. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a strong point. To achieve a higher band, ensure consistent attention to capitalization and attempt a slightly wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or inversion, where appropriate.

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

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