Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-26

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)

in recent years, many people commonly believed that the old castle should be restored even though it might take much funding others believe that it is the responsibility of government to replace them with new structure. this assay will discus both views while in my opinion, i suggest that old structure should be retained because serve as way of relating history.

on the one hand, the use of old building have not been fully explored, this is because such structures can serve the purpose as tourist attraction center this will require more funds to be maintained in other to preserve its originality where such monument can be used to reflect a certain life style of either a community or family that made contribution to life. for example the popular London bridge have served as both structural building style and attraction site for that country.

on the other hand , despite been an old building, in our changing and fast developing world, government should also play a role in replacing and adding new authentic view that conform with current architectural building thereby maintaining, while keeping update to the new technological pattern , in some countries accent castles have been replaced by government to modern day houses.

i recommend that old structures should be used and maintained to retain its historic view of that community as this can serve as museums or attraction sites.

in conclusion, despite its high cost of maintaining such structure government should as well put up new structure that reflect todays technology, ibelieve the cultural history will be preseved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion in the introduction. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention tourism and historical value, the arguments lack depth and specific supporting evidence. For instance, the example of the 'London bridge' is vague and does not clearly illustrate how it serves as a structural model for modern architecture. The conclusion is slightly contradictory, as it suggests maintaining old structures while simultaneously advocating for replacement, which weakens the clarity of your position. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed argument with a clear link to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'on the one hand' and 'on the other hand' are used, but the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are sometimes abrupt. There are issues with referencing; for example, 'them' in the first paragraph lacks a clear antecedent. Additionally, the punctuation is inconsistent, with missing commas and periods, which disrupts the flow of ideas. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph structure will help achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms such as 'old building', 'new structure', and 'good'. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'accent castles' (likely meaning 'ancient') and 'authentic view'. Some collocations are unnatural, such as 'structural building style'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to architecture, urban planning, and heritage conservation. Additionally, focus on using synonyms to avoid repetition of the word 'structure' and 'building' throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the use of old building have'), missing articles (e.g., 'in recent years, many people'), and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'despite been an old building'). Punctuation is also a significant area for improvement, as many sentences are run-on or lack necessary commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score.

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