Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that old buildings, such as town halls and art galleries, should be restored, even though this can be costly. Others argue that governments should replace them with new, modern buildings.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Some individuals think that traditional monuments such as town halls and art galleries should be repaired despite the fact that it could cost a fortune. However, others propose that rather than restoring such buildings, authorities should consider replacing them with new constructions. I believe preserving the old buildings is the need of the hour because they are part of our cultural heritage.

To commence with, the primary catalyst behind the notion of restoring old buildings is their connection to the local cultural roots. Since they represent the connectivity to traditional cultural heritage, preserving them by doing the necessary restoration is not wasteful. It is the cost to stay connected to our legacy. Furthermore, some traditional buildings are the famous landmarks of a region, which means demolishing them would result in the loss of tourism it brings to that place, which would consequently lead to reduction in tourism revenue. To exemplify, a century-old museum building should be restored instead of getting demolished, owing to its rich historical value that attracts travelers.

On the contrary, some critics argue that constructing new buildings is economically a better alternative to restoring classical monuments. The contributing factor is that replacing them with new buildings would not only provide stronger architecture that can last a lifetime but also equip modern buildings with latest technology. As a result, the premises can be made much more efficient for the public which would enhance the overall experience of the visitors.

In conclusion, although new constructions offer structural integrity and modern facilities, the enchanting charisma and cultural connectivity older buildings provide cannot be replaced by any new construction. Therefore, in my opinion, restoring traditional buildings where possible should be prioritized.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding cultural heritage and tourism revenue. The supporting points are relevant and logical. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples rather than general references like 'a century-old museum'. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different arguments. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'primary catalyst', 'structural integrity', and 'enchanting charisma' show an attempt to use less common lexical items. There is a good awareness of collocation, although some phrasing is slightly repetitive. The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. To improve, the student could incorporate more sophisticated synonyms to avoid repeating words like 'buildings' and 'construction' multiple times.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of concessive clauses ('although new constructions offer...') and conditional-like reasoning ('which means demolishing them would result in...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There are very few grammatical slips, and the control over sentence structure is strong. The writing is fluent and easy to follow, indicating a high level of grammatical competence that supports the clear communication of ideas.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.