Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-23

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)

Ancient buildings are a symbol of our history and heritage. Some individuals believe it is essential to preserve old buildings, art galleries while others argue that new buildings and malls should be constructed as per this modern world. This essay shall discuss both views followed by my opinion.

To begin with, most of the old buildings has some history associated with it. Every other building is a significance of our past and struggles that were faced by our ancestors. Old structures represents history and wars that were fought by our ancestors. For example, a very famous old art gallery in India shows how their Gurus fought for the country to get the independence, the paintings and carvings there shows how they had sacrificed their own families to make the country free of slavery. Moreover, children should know about their history, how the monuments used to look like and about the structure as well.

However, some argue that government should replace them with modern buildings as adults can learn about history from online resources. Old structures get weak with time and requires lot of money for maintenance. Instead of spending the money there, wealth should be invested in building new malls, modern buildings. As per their perspective, new buildings also enhance the beauty of the city, nowadays most of the buildings are made up of glass, has elevators inside which is very convenient for old and disabled people.

According to my opinion, I assert that it is crucial to preserve our heritage. Old monuments are the symbol of our history and it also attracts tourism. Legal authorities should identify which old structure is beneficial to restore and will attract people from different cities, hence how it will help them to grow their economy. Additionally, they should construct modern buildings as well as per today's world demand so that everyone can enjoy this changing world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the historical significance of buildings versus the practical benefits of modern infrastructure. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument for preservation is supported by a specific example from India, which is good, but the counter-argument regarding modern buildings is less detailed. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are explored with equal depth and that the conclusion synthesizes the points rather than just restating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'Additionally' are used to guide the reader through the arguments. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is mostly accurate, though there are minor issues with pronoun agreement, such as 'most of the old buildings has' (plural subject with singular verb). Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.5 or 7.0 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'heritage', 'monuments', 'maintenance', and 'infrastructure'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'significance of our past' (should be 'symbol' or 'testament') and 'how the monuments used to look like' (should be 'what the monuments looked like'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Improving collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would enhance the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues: 'most of the old buildings has' and 'Old structures represents'. Additionally, there are errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'get the independence' and 'as per today's world demand'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, which would allow for a more accurate and polished performance.

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

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