Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-27

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)

It is a debatable issue among individuals whether authorities have to restore the old sculptures or whether they have to build new buildings there. In my opinion, the former notion should be adopted to prevent these buildings from being renovated.

There are several reasons why new buildings are formed on the sites of old buildings. Firstly, urbanization is a big issue in this world, as the population is increasing day by day; more area is required to provide public housing. So, new vertical buildings can be formed in place of a single townhouse, where a number of individuals can live with their families.

On the other hand, numerous reasons state that these buildings should be restored. Instead of urbanization, these buildings are necessary to preserve our culture. To be more precise, these buildings hold our cultural values, which can only be understood from the perspective of these sites. Additionally, sometimes townhouses hold someone's feelings; if authorities demolish these buildings, then they are also hurting these people.

In conclusion, urbanization is a big issue that is enough to describe the demolishing of old buildings. I restate that the art galleries and town halls should be restored to preserve our cultural values.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. The ideas are introduced but not fully developed; for instance, the point about 'urbanization' is mentioned but lacks specific examples or a deeper explanation of how it impacts the decision to replace buildings. Furthermore, the conclusion contains a contradiction: you state that urbanization is a reason to demolish buildings, but then reiterate that they should be restored, which confuses your final position. To improve, you must expand on your points with concrete examples and ensure your conclusion aligns with your stated opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal shifts in your argument. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by the brevity of the text. The transition between the argument for urbanization and the argument for preservation is clear, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'these buildings') is always precise and unambiguous.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'big issue' and 'formed' repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of your writing. Phrases like 'old sculptures' are also slightly inaccurate in the context of town halls and galleries. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'big issue', you could use 'pressing concern' or 'significant challenge'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'whether authorities have to restore the old sculptures or whether they have to build new buildings there' is slightly repetitive and awkward. Additionally, the phrase 'prevent these buildings from being renovated' in your introduction contradicts your actual argument, as you are arguing for restoration, not against it. There are also minor issues with article usage and word choice. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy will help improve this score.

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

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