Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-15

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 7.5)

Some people argue that historic buildings such as town halls and art galleries should be restored, even if this requires a large amount of money. Others believe that it would be more beneficial to replace these buildings with modern ones. Although constructing new buildings can provide better facilities, I believe that important historic buildings should generally be preserved because of their cultural and historical value.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why governments should restore old buildings. First, historic buildings are an important part of a city's cultural heritage. They reflect the history, traditions and architectural styles of previous generations, allowing people to understand how their communities have developed over time. For example, an old town hall may represent an important period in a city's history and could become a valuable attraction for both residents and tourists. In addition, restoring historic buildings can support the tourism industry. Visitors are often interested in traditional architecture and historical sites, which can generate income for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and shops.

On the other hand, replacing old buildings with modern structures also has some significant advantages. New buildings are generally safer, more energy-efficient and easier to maintain. They can also be designed to meet the needs of modern society. For instance, a new art gallery could include advanced technology, larger exhibition areas and better facilities for people with disabilities. Furthermore, repairing an extremely old building can be very expensive, and governments may prefer to spend this money on other essential public services, such as healthcare and education.

In conclusion, while modern buildings can offer greater safety, efficiency and convenience, historic buildings play an important role in preserving a city's identity. Therefore, I believe that valuable old buildings should be restored, whereas less significant structures can be replaced when necessary.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has addressed all parts of the task thoroughly, discussing both views regarding whether to restore old buildings or replace them with modern structures, and clearly presenting their own opinion. The position is well-maintained throughout the response. In the body paragraphs, relevant ideas are extended and supported effectively. For instance, the discussion on cultural heritage and tourism provides concrete examples like old town halls and hotels, while the counter-argument covers safety, energy efficiency, and opportunity cost regarding public services. The ideas are well-developed and directly respond to the prompt requirements, meeting the descriptors for a Band 7.5 to 8.0 level. We will award a solid Band 7.5 for fully extending and supporting all parts of the task with a very clear, reasoned position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a balanced introduction, moving to the arguments for restoration, then the counter-arguments for modern replacement, and finishing with a cohesive conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'First', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text without being overly mechanical. Paragraphing is managed appropriately and logically supports the progression of ideas. Although cohesion is sometimes standard, it is smooth and supports a clear flow of thought, easily satisfying the Band 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with flexibility and precision, demonstrating an awareness of appropriate style for a general task 2 essay. Less common lexical items such as 'cultural heritage', 'architectural styles', 'energy-efficient', and 'preserving a city's identity' are integrated naturally. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, and spelling is correct throughout. While it stops just short of the wide, flexible range of Band 8 due to a reliance on some standard academic phrases, the vocabulary is varied enough to allow precise communication of complex ideas, comfortably earning a Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student displays a good control of grammar and punctuation, utilising a wide variety of complex sentence structures effectively. Examples include concessive clauses ('Although constructing new buildings can provide...') and conditional or participial ideas ('allowing people to understand how...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few minor imperfections that occur never impede communication. Control over tense consistency and subject-verb agreement is consistently strong throughout the text. The command over complex structures alongside high accuracy places this essay firmly in the Band 7.5 category.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.