Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-22

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)

There is an ongoing debate about whether historic public building should be preserved despite the expense involved, or whether governments should replace them with modern structures. While constructing new buildings can provide greater efficiency and functionality, I believe that historically significant buildings should generally be restored and preserved.

On the one hand, replacing old buildings can be more practical and cost effective. Many older structure require expensive repairs because of ageing materials, outdated electrical systems and poor energy efficiency. Renovating such a buildings may sometimes cost as much as, or even more than, constructing a new facility. In addition, modern buildings can be designed to meet current requirements, including better accessibility, improved safety and advanced technology. For example, an old town hall may have narrow entrances and inadquate facilities for people with disabilities, whereas a newly constructed building could provide a more suitable environment for both employees and visitors.

On the other hand, old buildings can have significant cultural and historical value that can not be replaced by modern architecture. They often represent a city,s heritage and provide future generations with a connection to its past. Furthermore, well-preserved buildings can attract tourists and generate income for local businesses. For instance, a restored historic art gallery may become a popular tourist attraction while contuining to provide educational and cultural benefits to the community. Restoration can also be more environmentally responsible because it avoids the waste created by demolishing an existing structure.

In my opinion, government should prioritize restoring buildings that have genuine historic or cultural importance. However, structures that are unsafe, extremely expensive to maintain or have little heritage value should be replaced when necessary.

In conclusion, although modern buildings provide practical advantages, historic structure can offer lasting cultural and economic benefits. Therefore, governments should preserve valuable heritage buildings while replacing those that can no longer serve a useful prupose.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and the main ideas—cost-effectiveness versus cultural heritage—are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of accessibility issues in old town halls and the environmental benefits of restoration. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting arguments are slightly more nuanced; for instance, you could briefly touch upon the compromise of adaptive reuse, where old shells are preserved but interiors are modernized, which would further strengthen your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use transition signals effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow between the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion is smooth. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the second paragraph, 'such a buildings' is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'historically significant', 'environmentally responsible', and 'cultural and historical value' are used effectively. However, there are some minor errors in word form and spelling, such as 'inadquate' (inadequate), 'contuining' (continuing), and 'prupose' (purpose). Additionally, 'city,s' contains a punctuation error. While these do not impede communication, addressing these slips and incorporating more sophisticated collocations would help you move into the higher band range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. However, there are several recurring grammatical slips, such as pluralization errors ('historic public building' should be 'buildings', 'such a buildings' should be 'such buildings', 'historic structure' should be 'structures'). These are non-systematic errors that do not hinder understanding but prevent the essay from reaching the highest band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and noun-number consistency during your proofreading process will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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