Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-24

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)

There is an ongoing debate on the renovation of historical buildings. Some people endorse that old buildings, such as town halls and art galleries, should be renovated, while others believe that the authorities should focus on constructing modern buildings. This essay will discuss both views, but as far as my opinion is concerned, it is better to restore traditional buildings irrespective of the cost, so that their cultural values can be maintained, and history can be kept alive for the next generations.

Customary places, such as town halls and art galleries, are the areas where people visit to cherish their ancestors's livings, and can teach their children about the comparison of old and modern art. This can facilitate them to preserve the values of their culture. Moreover, upcoming generations can have something to look upto for their historical background, and those who have interest in this subject can understand the traditional values better by observing old building rather than merely focusing on history books. For example, if a child is reading about a certain type of art, he can better understand that by looking at it as compared to just memorising its features from books.

On the other hand, with technological advancements, modern buildings have become a necessity for the success of a society. Public would prefer areas with newer structures rather than those with old-school buildings. Hence, the government have to take obligatory action to demolish old structures, and construct innovative buildings. For example, in Denmark, all previous town halls have been replaced with new ones, and this has attracted a lot of tourists to this area.

Admittedly, changing the face of a society with time can bridge the gap between people and success, but I am persuaded that restoring conventional buildings, such as installing technological devices, but not changing the exteriors can help in preserving the historical values. Furthermore, we will have something for our upcoming generations in terms of culture and history.

In conclusion, renovating significant structures, such as art galleries and town halls, according to the need of the era despite the exorbitance can prove a vital asset for our children.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—restoring old buildings versus replacing them with modern structures—and clearly states a personal position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For example, the student explains the cultural value of preserving historical sites and how they aid education, while also presenting a logical counter-argument regarding societal modernisation and tourism, citing an example from Denmark. While some of the supporting explanations are slightly repetitive or slightly over-generalised, the overall coverage of the task is solid and meets the criteria for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a clear introduction, followed by body paragraphs exploring opposing views, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Admittedly' are used effectively to signal transitions between ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally feel slightly mechanical or formulaic, which prevents the response from reaching higher bands. Overall, the flow of information is easy to follow, supporting a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, using phrases like 'ongoing debate', 'technological advancements', and 'historical values'. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, although some awkward collocations and word choices appear, such as 'ancestors's livings' instead of 'ancestors' lives' and 'the government have' (plural/singular agreement). Spelling is generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication. The lexical resource displayed comfortably fits the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and conditional structures (e.g., 'if a child is reading about a certain type of art...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing present, such as 'Some people endorse that' (endorse is typically followed by a noun, not a 'that' clause in this context), 'look upto' (phrasal verb spelling/spacing), and 'the government have to take obligatory action'. Despite these errors, the meaning is rarely obscured, and communication is clear throughout. This represents a solid Band 6 performance.

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

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