Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-19
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)
Every Country is a mix of old and new buildings, which makes them special because old monuments show the history, whereas new and modern buildings illustrate the progress of the country. One side people said that we have to reserve our buildings on the other hand some said that we have to replace it with new buildings.
Firstly, If we restored the older buildings likes art galleries, halls and streets which can help the company to represnt the history of there culture and moreover which will help them to attract the tourism then that people will spend money in our economy.For instance, In india, There are lots of old historical buildings which helps the government to generate the revenue as example of Red Fort which is old building but lo of people to see it becuase of its structure.
On the flip side, some population said that we have to replace the old buildings which new arcithure because there are lot of expenses to maintain the older momentums because these are made of old techniques whereas new buildings are less example and moreover new innovation represents the progress of country. For example, In canada most of the buildings are made by new machinery which would be decrease the cost of maintenance.
In my opinon, Country would be combination of both buildings where old buildings represents the culture and historty whereas new momentums shows the progress of the country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the argument regarding the economic benefits of tourism could be expanded with more specific detail. The position is consistent throughout, but the lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the topic, which is necessary for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the flip side', and 'In my opinion'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as 'that people will spend money' or 'some population said'. The logical flow is generally maintained, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall coherence of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'reserve our buildings' (should be 'preserve'), 'older momentums' (should be 'monuments'), and 'less example' (should be 'less expensive'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student relies on basic terms. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary related to urban planning and historical preservation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('some population said', 'buildings... represents'), incorrect article usage, and awkward phrasing ('which would be decrease the cost'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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