Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 recent years, many people have developed a strong interest in learning about the history of the house or the building they live in. I remain firmly convinced that this trend is due to increased access to information and a desire to connect with cultural identity. The foremost justification lies in the fact that this interest is growing due to many reasons. Now, internet has made each and everything possible. In the past, people had to visit libraries or government offices to find old documents. But now they can simply search online.

Moreover, due to fast-paced modern life people feel more disconnected to their routes. When they migrate to their heritage homes, they want to learn about their traditions to feel a stronger sense of belonging. This is clearly exemplified by someone living in an old-house in Lahore want to know who built it, when it was built and what events happened there. In addition, social media and TV shows about history made this topic more interesting. Beyond this, it is important to recognize that when people understand the history of their house or city they are more likely to respect and preserve it. It also strengthens bonds because neighbors often share old stories and pictures which help them to adjust in different environments. Furthermore, learning about past can teach valuable lessons for future. For these reasons I remain firmly convinced that the growing interest in local history is caused by better access to information and a need for cultural connection. I consider this to be a positive trend because it helps preserve heritage and brings communities closer together.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the interest and methods of research. However, the second part—how people research this—is significantly under-developed. While you mention that 'internet has made each and everything possible' and contrast this with visiting libraries, you do not provide specific, detailed methods or examples of how one actually conducts such research (e.g., accessing digital archives, land registries, or interviewing local historians). The ideas are present but lack the depth required for a higher band. The position is clear throughout, but the development of the 'how' section is quite superficial.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is problematic; the entire body of the essay is contained within a single large paragraph, which hinders the flow and makes it harder for the reader to follow the transition between the 'reasons' and the 'methods' of research. To improve, you should separate these distinct ideas into at least two clear body paragraphs to demonstrate better control over structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fast-paced', 'cultural identity', and 'preserve heritage'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'disconnected to their routes' (should be 'roots') and 'internet has made each and everything possible' (which is slightly informal and imprecise). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the overall range is somewhat limited and relies on repetitive structures. To reach a higher band, focus on more precise collocations and avoid overly simplistic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'internet has made' (missing the article 'the'), 'someone living in an old-house... want to know' (subject-verb agreement error: 'wants'), and 'learning about past' (missing the article 'the'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You have a good grasp of basic grammar, but you need to pay closer attention to articles, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions to improve your accuracy.

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

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