Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03

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 learning about the history of the house or building where they live. There are several reasons for this interest, and people can use different methods to find such information.

One main reason is that people are naturally curious about the place where they live. They may want to know when their house was built, who lived there previously and how it has changed over the years. This can also give them a better understanding of the local area and its history. Another reason is that some people may discover that their house has an interesting past or was connected to an important event or person, which can make them feel more connected to their home.

There are several ways to research the history of a building. First, people can ask older residents or previous owners of the house, as they may have useful information about its past. They can also visit local libraries or government offices to look for old records, maps and documents. In addition, the internet can be a useful source of information because many historical records and photographs are now available online. Finally, people can examine old photographs, newspapers or property documents that may have been kept by previous owners.

In conclusion, people are becoming more interested in the history of their homes because of their curiosity and desire to understand their connection with the place they live. They can research this history by speaking to people, checking official records and using both physical and online historical resources.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the interest in building history and the methods for researching it. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention that people are 'naturally curious,' this could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis of why this trend is occurring now (e.g., the rise of genealogy or digital archives). The response is well-structured and covers all requirements, but to reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more detailed explanations or concrete examples to support your points, rather than just listing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

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 cohesive devices such as 'One main reason,' 'Another reason,' 'In addition,' and 'Finally' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices further, as some of the transitions are quite standard. Overall, the flow is smooth and the structure is coherent throughout the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is accurate and appropriate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use terms like 'historical records,' 'previous owners,' and 'local area' correctly. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common, everyday language. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items related to the topic, such as 'architectural heritage,' 'archival research,' 'provenance,' or 'historical significance.' The current range is sufficient for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'They may want to know when their house was built, who lived there previously and how it has changed over the years.' While the grammar is generally accurate, the range of complex structures is somewhat restricted. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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