Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-16

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 believe that preserving historical places such as, public art galleries and historic town halls is a good idea and should be restored, while others argue that governments should scrutinize and put more resources into advanced buildings. In this essay, I will discuss both views before presenting my own opinion.

On the one hand, old buildings possess a very sentimental feelings for various people, and repairing old structures can sometimes be cost-effective with limited government resources. For instance, Frere Hall in Karachi is a place and it has unique structures and historical landmarks. Every year rainfall occurs and some of its part and color usually fade and managers can not afford to repair this every year. As a result, to maintain this they usually cover the thatch with plastic sheets so that water does not enter in premises of hall to save both money as well as cultural heritage. On the other hand, governments should replace outdated structures because if sudden earthquake hits the old buildings can suddenly collapse and may cause the loss of innocent lives. For example, to modernize urban infrastructure governments can collect funds and focus on constructing modern facilities. As this step will make people live easier and accessible without any fear people can live freely. Consequently, significant improvement may be seen by replacing old buildings with new ones. In my opinion, I believe preserving only historically significant buildings is predominantly a more viable approach and replacing dangerous and harmful buildings with a modern one is the best option. In conclusion, natural cultural treasures should always remain the first priority, but if damage occurs then backup plan is also sometimes necessary as modernization is cost effective. However, if there is a threat being observed in any old buildings then replacing them with improved ones is a sustainable option for individuals, government should take note on this carefully for the betterment of society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The example of Frere Hall is specific but the explanation of the maintenance process is slightly tangential to the core argument of restoration versus replacement. The second body paragraph regarding safety and earthquakes is relevant but could be more deeply explored. The position is consistent throughout the essay, which is a strength. To reach a higher band, ensure that the supporting examples directly reinforce the main arguments rather than focusing on descriptive details about maintenance methods or specific building conditions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'As this step will make people live easier and accessible without any fear people can live freely.' The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their intended antecedents.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'scrutinize', 'sentimental', and 'sustainable'. However, there are some issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'possess a very sentimental feelings' (should be 'evoke sentimental feelings') and 'make people live easier' (should be 'make life easier'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but the lack of precision in some phrases prevents a higher score. Focusing on natural collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help improve this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'some of its part and color usually fade' (subject-verb agreement/pluralization) and 'if sudden earthquake hits' (missing article). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'if there is a threat being observed in any old buildings'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy in articles and subject-verb agreement is recommended.

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