Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-31
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)
It has been often argued by some individuals that, the historical building such as town halls and art galleries must be preserved despite the high investment it involves, while others believe that government bodies should replace the with buildings with new infrastructure. Although old buildings undoubtedly holds the history of the place and have cultural significance, introduction of modern buildings such as schools, hospitals can be more beneficial for the society.
On the one hand, heritage building carries history of the place, which helps an individual to stay connected to their roots. Additionally, some buildings such as Taj Mahal in India is an excellent epitome of an historical event that took place centuries ago, and still it holds a special place in the history of India. It is even listed in the seven wonders of the world, that drags the attention from all over the world, and it generated economical channels for the locals. Therefore, it becomes crucial to preserve these places.
On the other hand, massive investment on restoration of old building, while the society is deprived of basic necessity is also controversial. While fulling basic needs of society should be the utmost priority of official bodies. For instance, any country can survive without historical building, but it can not withstand without hospitals, schools, libraries. Therefore, government should prioritize investment in these sectors primarily rather than restoring old monuments.
In conclusion, while old building carry legacy and history of a place which gives it a cultural significance, it is more crucial for government to utilize that space for the construction of modern building that makes the lives of general public easier.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the cultural value of heritage versus the practical necessity of modern infrastructure. However, the development is somewhat limited. While the Taj Mahal example is relevant, the argument regarding modern buildings is a bit generic. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' and 'how' of your arguments with more nuanced reasoning. Your position is consistent throughout, which is a strength, but the conclusion could be more robust by summarizing the main points more effectively rather than just restating the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Additionally,' and 'Therefore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'replace the with buildings' (a typo) and 'these places' which could be more explicitly linked to the previous sentence. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by varying the sentence starters and ensuring that each paragraph develops a single, cohesive argument without jumping between ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cultural significance,' 'epitome,' and 'infrastructure.' However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'drags the attention' (should be 'attracts attention') and 'generated economical channels' (should be 'generated economic opportunities'). There are also minor grammatical errors affecting word forms, such as 'historical building' (should be plural) and 'fulling' (should be 'fulfilling'). To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and proofreading for small errors that detract from the professional tone of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'the historical building such as' lacks proper article usage and pluralization. There are also subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'old buildings undoubtedly holds' (should be 'hold'). While your meaning is always clear, the frequency of these small errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent article usage to ensure your complex sentences are as accurate as your simple ones.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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