Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 many countries, an increasing number of people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the houses or buildings they live in. There are several reasons for this trend, and people can use various methods to research the history of their homes.

There are several reasons why people want to learn about the history of their homes. One reason is that some people may be interested in historical research and could use this information for academic or professional purposes, such as writing articles, books or documentaries. Another reason is simple curiosity about the past. People may want to know who lived in their homes before them and whether their families or ancestors had any connection with the area. This can also help them develop a stronger connection with their local culture and heritage.

There are several ways in which people can investigate the history of their homes. First, they can search for historical information in libraries, archives and online databases. Old newspapers, maps and photographs may provide useful information about a building and its previous residents. Another useful source is local government records, as authorities may keep information about the construction and ownership of older buildings. Finally, people can speak to previous owners or elderly neighbours, who may have personal knowledge about the building and its past.

In conclusion, people may become interested in the history of their homes because of curiosity, family connections and an interest in local heritage. They can research this history through libraries, online resources, government records and people who have knowledge of the building's past.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring both the reasons behind the trend and the methods people can use to research property history. In the body paragraphs, the student offers clear reasons such as professional curiosity and local heritage connection, followed by logical research methods including archives, government records, and local interviews. The ideas are relevant, well-organised, and fully developed throughout the essay. The response meets the minimum length requirement easily and covers all requirements of Task 2 effectively, aligning closely with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from an introduction to causes, then methods, and finally a succinct conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'One reason is', 'Another reason is', and 'Finally', which help guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, though the use of cohesive devices occasionally leans slightly formulaic, which keeps the score at a solid Band 7 rather than moving into the higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'historical research', 'previous residents', 'local culture and heritage', and 'online databases' are used accurately and appropriately in context. While the lexical range is generally functional and precise, it lacks a wide array of less common or sophisticated idiomatic expressions, which prevents it from reaching a Band 7. However, the vocabulary used is natural and contains no distracting spelling errors, fully satisfying the Band 6 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The student correctly employs dependent clauses, relative clauses, and conditional-like structures, such as 'whether their families or ancestors had any connection with the area' and 'who may have personal knowledge about the building and its past.' While there are occasional minor flaws or repetitive sentence stems, grammatical accuracy is generally high, and punctuation is well controlled. The errors present do not impede communication at all, placing the response comfortably within the Band 7 category.

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