Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-17
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 5.5)
Many individuals say that historical monuments like town halls and art galleries should be repaired, although it can be expensive. while others believe that governments should replace them with latest, modern infrastructures. According to me, old buildings have their own identity and history. Both the views along with my opinion are explained in the following paragraphs.
There are certain reasons why old buildings should not restored. First and foremost, old buildings represents city heritage, tradition, culture as well as architectural heritage. As it cannot present by new buildings. Apart from this, if ancient buidings will be restored; then it not only gives economy to country, but also increase employment ratio to the particular place. To explain this, income which will generate from it, 30% of income use to repair monuments. To exemplify, in Agra where Taj Mahel is located, this buiding provides 70% of employment, which directly useful for country's growth.
Replacing old buildings with new buildings by governments also has merits. Firstly, government should build new schools and hospitals. As it is very important to get basic medication to stay healthy. Secondly, governing body should replace old monuments by making sculpture of ancient contributors. In this way, people will remember their contribution and sacrifice. For example, Kevadiya colony is made to remembrance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as it is known as the second tallest statue of unity in world.
In my opinion, old buildings has their own identity and art, which cannot repeat by new buildings.
To conclude, historical monuments should be preserved, while some believe that it will replaced by new buildings. According to me, historical monuments cannot take place by new buildings.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat inconsistent. While the argument for preservation is supported by the example of the Taj Mahal, the explanation of why buildings should not be restored is confusingly phrased (e.g., 'old buildings should not restored'). The second body paragraph shifts focus from replacing buildings to building new infrastructure like schools, which is only tangentially related to the prompt's focus on replacing historical sites. The conclusion is repetitive and lacks depth. To improve, ensure each paragraph directly supports the specific prompt and provides more nuanced reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, 'According to me' is used twice, which is not standard academic phrasing. Transitions like 'Apart from this' and 'To explain this' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes hindered by grammatical errors. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the two views is muddled. Improving the variety and precision of linking words would significantly enhance the flow of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'increase employment ratio to the particular place' and 'cannot take place by new buildings.' Some vocabulary is repetitive, and the attempt to use more sophisticated terms occasionally leads to unnatural collocations. To reach a higher band, focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to architecture and urban development, and ensure that words are used in their correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'old buildings represents'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'should not restored'), and missing articles or prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of semicolons and commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the essay from achieving a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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