Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31

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 6.0)

There are several reasons why people want to learn about the history of their homes. First, many people are simply curious about the past and want to know who lived in their house before them. Learning about previous owners, the original purpose of the building, and important events that took place there can make people feel more connected to their home. Second, older buildings often have cultural or historical value. Therefore, residents may want to understand their home's connection with the local community and preserve its heritage. For example, a person living in an old house in Ahmedabad might be interested in finding out when it was built and which families lived there in the past.

There are various ways to research the history of a house or building. One effective method is to visit local government offices or libraries, where property records, old maps, newspapers, and historical documents may be available. People can also speak to elderly neighbours or previous owners, as they may have useful information about the building and its residents. In addition, the internet has made this research much easier. Historical websites, digital newspaper archives, and online property databases can provide valuable information without requiring people to travel.

In conclusion, people are increasingly interested in the history of their homes because they are curious about the past and want to understand and preserve their local heritage. They can research this history through government records, libraries, local residents, previous owners, and online sources.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the interest in house history and methods for research. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are presented in a somewhat list-like fashion. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or extended examples. For instance, instead of just listing sources like 'libraries' or 'internet', you could discuss the specific types of insights these sources provide or the challenges one might face during the research process. The current length prevents a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'Therefore', and 'In addition' effectively to link sentences and ideas. However, the transitions are somewhat mechanical and predictable. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Words and phrases like 'cultural or historical value', 'preserve its heritage', and 'digital newspaper archives' are used accurately. However, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than sophisticated. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate more precise academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices are appropriate for the context of the task, ensuring that your meaning is never obscured.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, which makes the text easy to read. You demonstrate good control over punctuation and basic sentence construction. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; you rely heavily on straightforward 'subject-verb-object' patterns. To improve, try to integrate more varied grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'records are kept') or conditional sentences (e.g., 'If one were to search...'), to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over complex language.

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

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