Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-08

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 6.5)

Some people claim that historical buildings are our cultural heritage, so it is imperative to restore them no matter **how much the government has to spend**, while **a** significant portion of people believe that **they should be replaced with** new monuments. I strongly agree that old traditional buildings **have a** substantial role **in preserving** our culture and heritage, as it is indispensable for **the** new generation to have **knowledge** of their legacy. However, **the** government has to spend **its** expenditure which can be used to facilitate education, **healthcare**, and infrastructure.

Admittedly, it is easy to understand why some individuals favor **renovating** the traditional monuments and **buildings**. Some old historical buildings are **representations of** the country that attract lots of visitors, which contribute to **increasing** the GDP. As visitors **are** inextricably linked to **the** development of the nation, they help small businesses to grow, such as small vendors and shops **that get** lots of revenue from tourists. Furthermore, old traditional **buildings act** as the heritage of the nation and often represent the **culture** and traditions of their people. If such **buildings are** replaced, **the** nation **loses** their heritage and cultural significance, which **preserves** the individuals' **ethnicity**. For instance, almost all countries have their own heritage sites, which **represent the nation's** history and freedom stories. This not only **incentivizes** citizens to respect the nation but also **increases** their affection for their people.

On the other hand, spending lots of money to renovate **old buildings** and monuments is of no use when other more considerable factors, such as infrastructure, **healthcare**, and education, are **taken for granted**. If **the** government **allocates a higher amount of money from taxes** to **redesigning** old buildings and monuments, other parts of development **may be undermined**, which **helps the** nation to develop. For example, **the** government has to spend a significant portion of **its budget** on medical facilities and education, which **contribute to the** overall development of **the** nation.

In conclusion, however, spending **an** excessive amount on reconstructing old traditional **buildings** is worthless, **these** buildings predominantly play an important role **in preserving** the culture and identity. It is imperative to **adopt a balanced approach**. **The** government should spend **a considerable** amount of money on such **buildings** while also considering **the** more important factors which **help** citizens to grow.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, particularly in the body paragraphs where you discuss economic benefits and the trade-off with public services. However, some arguments could be more fully developed; for instance, the link between preserving buildings and 'ethnicity' is a bit vague. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Admittedly', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Nevertheless, the logical structure is clear, and referencing is consistent throughout the text, justifying a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'inextricably linked', 'indispensable', and 'incentivizes' show an attempt to use less common lexical items. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'spend its expenditure' (which is redundant) and 'taken for granted' (which is used slightly out of context here). Despite these minor issues, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of your ideas, fitting the criteria for a Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There is good control over grammar, and most sentences are error-free. However, there are some minor slips, such as 'which helps the nation to develop' (where the antecedent is slightly unclear) and 'these buildings predominantly play' (which requires a conjunction or semicolon to avoid a comma splice). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Given the variety of structures used and the overall level of accuracy, the response demonstrates a solid command of grammar.

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