Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-29
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)
According to one portion of the world, the official bodies should replace the memorial and ancient buildings with new and modern ones. While the other things that instead of completely replacing it they have to renovate it , even its costly. I will elaborate both the points in upcoming paragraphs along with my own opinion.
On the one hand side who believe that we have to restored the old buildings. Because lot of emotions are attached to that places. For example, in India, there is a famous museum known for Maharaja Ranjit Singh life. Like what they have done in their life. If the government restored it instead of replacing them the young generation will learn about their ancestors and the famous person's life.
On the other hand side, even its good idea to replace it with modern buildings. As the modern buildings has more access to modern technology as well like the elevators were placed in the recent buildings. Moreover, the strength of the new building is much more than the old one.
According to my opinion we have to restored it instead of destroying it. As, I think the old buildings contain lots of historical stories. If we replace that area then what stories will left behind to tell our toddlers? We know that renovation take a lot of money but even if we restored it, it will attract the tourist as well. Which is beneficial for the coutries economy.
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 falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments regarding historical preservation and modern functionality are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. The points could have been expanded with more depth to fully meet the requirements of the task. Because the response is under the word count, it is penalized in this criterion, as the depth of argument is limited by the brevity of the text.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a logical flow from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'On the one hand side', 'On the other hand side'). Additionally, some transitions between sentences are abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'the other things' in the introduction. Improving the variety and sophistication of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'official bodies' instead of 'authorities' or 'the other things' instead of 'others argue'. The student relies on basic vocabulary and struggles with collocations, such as 'restored the old buildings' (should be 'restore'). While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of flexibility and the presence of errors in word choice limit the score in this category.
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 the reader's flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the modern buildings has', 'renovation take'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'we have to restored'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the student attempts to use complex structures, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to proofreading for tense consistency and subject-verb agreement is necessary.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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