Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-01

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)

In recent times, the debate whether heritage buildings having cultural significance should be restored even at high expense or authorities must substitute them with modern architecture, has become intensified. I completely agree with the idea of preservation of historic structures and will discuss both views in the essay.

The civilized nations always remember and cherish their history and culture. The old heritage buildings have both cultural and historical significance. They’re testament of a nation’s marvellous history and is a source of inspiration for the youth as well. People take pride in their heritage and feel sense of belonging and patriotism from these historical architecture as well. Therefore, governments should invest in preservation and maintenance of these traditional buildings even if it costs them a fortune. For instance, The fort of Lahore constructed by the Mughal emperors has been recently restored by the government of punjab. It’s a manifestation of the grandeur of the Mughal era and is a tourist attraction as well.

On the other hand, the idea of replacement of old buildings by the modern infrastructure seems more convenient and radical. This can be source of more wealth generation, housing or healthcare facilities establishment yet all of these gains on the expense of loosing national heritage and culture isn’t worthy enough.

In my opinion, governments must ensure proper maintenance and protection of old buildings having cultural and historical significance. As nations are build on their strong foundations of belonging, culture and patriotism. It’s essential for national interest and prosperity as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and clearly states a personal position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant, such as the cultural significance of heritage buildings versus the economic potential of modern infrastructure. However, the development of the second viewpoint is somewhat brief compared to the first. While the example of the Lahore Fort is well-integrated, the discussion on modern buildings could be more deeply explored to reach a higher band. Overall, the task requirements are met, and the position remains consistent throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'In recent times', 'For instance', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the importance of heritage to the counter-argument and finally the writer's opinion. While the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be slightly more sophisticated, the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the criteria for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You have used some good collocations like 'cultural significance', 'marvellous history', and 'wealth generation'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'loosing' instead of 'losing' and 'nations are build' instead of 'nations are built'. While you demonstrate an ability to use less common vocabulary, there is room for more precise and sophisticated lexical choices to elevate the tone of the essay further. The range is adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('They’re testament... and is a source') and tense inconsistencies. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and spelling errors, such as 'punjab' (which should be capitalized) and 'nations are build'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic agreement and ensuring that complex sentence structures are punctuated correctly.

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

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