Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-19

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 7.0)

In some countries, many individuals are becoming intrigued in knowing about the past of their house or building they lived in. This essay will discuss the factors that contribute to this emerging trend and propose ways people can investigate the antecedents of their structures.

One potential driving force behind this growing interest is the rise of genealogy and ancestry research, which has ignited a passion for personal history among many individuals. As people delve into their family trees, they naturally become curious about the spaces their ancestors inhabited and the connection between their living environments and family narratives. Consequently, learning about the history of their dwellings allows individuals to establish a more profound connection with their ancestors and enrich their understanding of their family's past.

To uncover the history of a building, there are several viable approaches. Firstly, engaging with long-time residents who possess a wealth of information can provide homebuyers with authentic insights and personal anecdotes about the area. Previous owners can also be valuable sources, offering practical experiences and reasons for their departure. Secondly, local archives or libraries are rich resources for historical documents, photographs, and records. Old newspapers and magazines, for instance, may mention specific addresses in the context of notable incidents, providing valuable references for homebuyers.

In conclusion, the growing interest in researching the history of houses can be attributed to curiosity and the potential for preservation. Oral records from long-time residents and previous owners, along with archival materials, are effective sources of information for uncovering a building's past.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the reasons for researching building history—such as genealogy and personal connection—and how people can investigate it through oral sources and local archives. The position is clear throughout the essay. The introduction successfully paraphrases the task prompt, and the body paragraphs logically extend and support the main ideas with relevant examples, such as old newspapers and magazines. Although the conclusion slightly alters one of the reasons from curiosity and preservation to curiosity and preservation (which is well maintained), the overall development is strong and satisfies the Band 7 descriptors well, showing a clear, fully addressed set of prompts without any major omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the driving forces, the investigative methods, and finally a succinct conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, as seen with transition markers like 'Consequently,' 'To uncover the history of a building,' and 'Secondly,' which guide the reader seamlessly through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct prompt requirements into well-structured, readable blocks. Referencing and substitution are handled skillfully, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and easy to follow at all times.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic task. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'genealogy and ancestry research,' 'antecedents of their structures,' 'viable approaches,' and 'archival materials.' While there is a minor lexical slip in the opening sentence ('becoming intrigued in knowing' instead of 'intrigued to know' or 'interested in knowing'), the vocabulary used is precise enough to convey complex ideas clearly. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, and vocabulary does not impede communication, comfortably aligning with a Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good variety of complex structures, including relative clauses ('that contribute to this emerging trend'), participial phrases ('offering practical experiences'), and conditional or adverbial frames. There is good control of grammar and punctuation overall. While a minor grammatical infelicity appears in the first sentence ('the history of their house or building they lived in' where 'live in' or 'lived in' could be streamlined, and a slight tense shift), the majority of sentences are error-free. The punctuation is sound, and grammatical errors do not impede communication, supporting a solid Band 7 rating.

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