Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29
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)
Across the globe the newest trend, is the growing interest in the history of the homes or buildings that people reside in. Many have become more curious regarding factors like who lived there in the past, what was the building previously used for and many other things. The idea of knowing the past regarding the place where one lives, helps build a stronger connection to their homes. This essay will explore the likely causes for this growing interest along with possible sources of information for the same.
The widespread nature of social media trends can be attributed to the rise in interest regarding the history of where one lives. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube frequently feature content about historical buildings, heritage homes and the origins of residential neighbourhoods. Such content can prompt viewers to become curious about the history of their own properties, particularly if they live in older buildings. In recent times, people have become more open to trying out new activities in their downtime including the exploration of the past regarding their homes. One can track the evolution of the aesthetics of their homes, developments in the surrounding neighbourhood and changes in the type of residents over the years.
A wide range of sources could possibly serve one's curiosity. The easiest method would likely involve communicating with the previous residents or the past owners. For buildings that are much older, historical archives and libraries could serve as good sources. Old photographs of buildings are also good options; however, availability might be limited, especially for very old buildings. Additionally, one can use Google Maps which provides a live street view of the records from a particular year in which it was mapped, allowing to not only explore their own homes but also the overall locality, roads, nearby shops and other attractions. Local governements can enocourage this growing fascination by facilitating access to old records and highlighting the importance of preserving the history associated with the locality. Historical knowledege of their properties can lead to greater appreciation and give residents a stronger connection to their community. One may become more willing to protect and preserve the local heritage.
In conclusion, social media has played a significant role in encouraging people to explore the history of their homes which has led to development of the desire to connect with their local community and preserve it. Fortunately, many sources are readily available on the internet and libraries that aid in this process. There are several benefits such as renewed interest to preserve historically significant areas and the contribution of the public aided by the local authorities can make it a successful endeavour
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying both the reasons behind the growing interest in building history (such as the influence of social media trends and the desire for personal connection) and the methods for researching it (such as speaking with previous owners, using libraries, historical archives, and Google Maps). The position is clear throughout, and ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The ideas are thoroughly explored without unnecessary repetition, demonstrating a strong grasp of the prompt requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction, reasons for the trend, methods of research, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, such as 'Additionally,' 'For buildings that are much older,' and 'In conclusion.' Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is clear. While cohesion is generally well-managed, a few minor mechanical transitions could be slightly more natural to achieve a higher band, but overall the structure facilitates smooth reading.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'heritage homes,' 'historical archives,' and 'surrounding neighbourhood.' There are occasional minor word choice or spelling inaccuracies, such as 'governements' instead of 'governments' and 'enocourage' instead of 'encourage,' but these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is adequate for discussing the topic in detail and shows a good attempt at varied expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'Platforms such as Instagram... frequently feature content about...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, though a few minor punctuation or grammatical slips occur, such as the unnecessary comma in 'Across the globe the newest trend, is...' and a dangling modifier in 'allowing to not only explore...'. However, these errors do not impede communication and the majority of complex structures are managed well.
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