Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

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 5.5)

In recent years, many house owners are focusing on finding out the whole background history of the building they have been living has become increasingly prevalent. There are several reasons behind this development, and it has significant implications for individuals as in house owners or renters. This essay will address both aspects in detail.

There are several reasons why owners are interested in finding out about the background stories of their houses. The primary factor is regarding the original owners having the legal documents of the property area or house. This is because, in the future, if the current owners fall into some trouble regarding their house or the property, they could claim it back rightfully. Furthermore, to have more information about the background of the original owner's history also contributes to this trend. For example, the original or past owner being a member of an illegal gang can affect the individual or family who residents in the building and may get involved in cases. Therefore, finding information about the the place they bought to live is important.

Regarding the second question, the individuals who buy the house or property should research to get accurate and valid information through proper channels. One of the main considerations is having conversation with the neighbors about the owner and their plot. This can result in understanding the behavior and personality of the neighbors. Additionally, renters can visit the near by police station or municipal office to get more information about the property. For instance, a family wants to buy a affordable large house and through a website, they got a contact to visit a similar preferred house, but they want to get know about he locality and owner before they finalize it, so they ask around the locals as safety and comfort is important. Thus, it is essential to research about the owner and place you buy to live in

In conclusion,there are multiple reasons why individuals are interested to find the history through locals, municipal office and police station before finalizing the property to buy. Furthermore, it is important to know the restriction and rules of the area to know if it is a place were the individuals or family feel comfortable and safe .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: you suggest reasons for investigating a property’s past and ways to research it, including speaking with neighbours and contacting local offices. These are relevant ideas, and the example about a family checking a house before buying helps illustrate the research process. However, the reasons are not always clearly connected to the task. The point about legal documents and reclaiming a property is difficult to follow, while the concern about a former owner’s criminal history is asserted without explaining how commonly this would motivate people. The response also shifts between owners and renters without clarifying their different interests. Develop each reason with a clearer explanation and use more direct research methods, such as property records or local archives.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two questions, and a conclusion. This makes the main stages easy to identify, and linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The introduction promises to discuss “both aspects,” although the task asks two questions, and the conclusion repeats the research methods without clearly summarising the reasons. Within paragraphs, ideas sometimes jump from legal ownership to criminal history, and the long example in the research paragraph is difficult to follow. Use clearer topic sentences and make each example directly support the point immediately before it; also check references such as “they” so the reader can identify who is meant.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “legal documents,” “property,” “municipal office,” and “locality,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “proper channels” and “significant implications.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes making the intended meaning less clear: “background history,” “the original owners having the legal documents,” and “the individual or family who residents in the building” are examples. Some expressions are also repetitive, particularly “house,” “property,” and “owner.” Aim for precise, natural combinations such as “property records,” “previous occupants,” and “research a building’s history.” Proofread spelling and spacing as well, including “near by” and the repeated “the.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using clauses introduced by “because,” “if,” and “who,” as well as examples and conditional ideas. This gives the response some structural variety, and the main message is generally understandable. However, some sentence structures are faulty and make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. The opening sentence, “many house owners are focusing on finding out … has become increasingly prevalent,” combines incompatible constructions. There are also errors in agreement and clause formation, as in “the individual or family who residents,” and missing or incorrect articles and prepositions in phrases such as “a affordable large house” and “research about the owner.” Punctuation and spacing are inconsistent, especially in the conclusion. Build complex sentences around one clear main clause, then check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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