Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-26

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 7.5)

In some countries, an increasing number of people are interested in discovering the history of the houses and buildings in which they live. This interest can be attributed to people's curiosity about the past, as well as their desire to understand the cultural and personal significance of their homes. There are several ways in which this information can be researched.

One major reason for this growing interest is curiosity about previous residents and events associated with a property. People may want to know who lived there before them and how the building has changed over time. Another reason is that older buildings may have historical or architectural significance. Homeowners who intend to renovate such properties may therefore wish to understand their original design before making alterations. In addition, learning about a house's past can create a stronger emotional connection with the place where people live.

There are various methods of researching the history of a building. One useful approach is to examine official records, such as property documents, land registries and local government archives, which may provide information about previous owners and changes to the property. Historical newspapers and old maps can also be valuable sources, particularly for older buildings. Furthermore, people can speak to long-term residents or previous owners, who may have personal knowledge that is not available in official documents. Nowadays, online databases and historical websites can make this research considerably easier.

In conclusion, people's interest in the history of their homes is largely driven by curiosity, historical awareness and a desire to understand their connection with a property. Official records, historical sources, online resources and conversations with local residents can all help them discover this information.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student has fully addressed all parts of the prompt, successfully identifying both the reasons why people research their home's history and the methods used to do so. In the second paragraph, the writer explains several reasons such as curiosity about previous residents, architectural significance, and emotional connection. The third paragraph outlines practical research methods, including official records, historical newspapers, and online databases. The position is clear throughout, and ideas are well-supported with logical explanations. There are no major omissions or digressions. Based on the positive criteria in the descriptors, this performance easily satisfies the requirements for a Band 7.5 to 8.0, demonstrating a well-developed response that covers all parts of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used logically and effectively, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct part of the prompt—one addressing reasons and the other focusing on research methods. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text without being overly mechanical. Referencing is clear, and the overall progression of ideas feels natural. Although cohesion is managed very well, it lacks the absolute seamlessness and sophisticated subtlety required to reach a Band 8.5 or 9.0. Therefore, a solid Band 7.5 or 8.0 is appropriate, reflecting highly competent and controlled organisational skills.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating less common lexical items such as 'architectural significance', 'official records', 'land registries', and 'historical newspapers'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, as seen in phrases like 'emotional connection' and 'online databases'. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is precise and fits the academic context well, it stops short of the truly flexible and sophisticated use of uncommon idiomatic or stylistic items expected at Band 8.0 or above. Consequently, this performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay contains a good variety of complex sentence structures, demonstrated by clauses such as 'which may provide information about previous owners' and 'where people live.' The majority of sentences are error-free, showing good control of grammar and punctuation throughout. Complex structures are handled with confidence, and any minor slips are entirely absent. The control shown in maintaining accurate, well-formed complex sentences across a range of structures points clearly to the Band 8.0 descriptor, where the majority of sentences are error-free and control is strong.

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