Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-11

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)

There is angoing debate over whether historical buildings should be restored or whether new buildings should be build instead of replacing.

In my opinion, it all depends on condition of the buildings such as there are some historical buildings which need excess repair while some are still in good condition.

The old buildings are cultural assest for any country. These buildings represent the specific culture and construction rituals which once were particular for that area. These places play an important role in keeping their people attached to their roots. For example, art galleries not only display the items showing the cultural heritages but these old buildings also have specific charm which attracts people. However, some art galleries are old enough to bring damage at any time for the visitors. These risks should be evaluated carefully and if needed adequate repair should be done. The cost does not matter because restoration of cultural heritage is much precious matter to considered. Likewise other buildings such as town halls and museums hold the same value for the community.

On the other hand there are some people who argue that these buildings should never be replaced. However there are some old constructions for which repair could not be enough to eliminate the danger so that replacement of building is the only option. For example, in my hometown there was an old temple which people did not allow to demolish but later during rain season the part of building has fallen and many people suffered from sever injuries.Government departments related to preservation of the historical buildings should carefully monitor the situation and adapt the safety measures.

In conclusion, it all depends on the situaton just because repair is costly the lives of people could not be put on risk. Subsequently the higher authorities can decide when the replacement could be a better option.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You discuss both restoration and replacement and give a conditional position: the decision should depend on a building’s condition and the risk to people. The cultural value of old buildings is supported with examples of galleries, town halls and museums, while the temple anecdote explains why replacement may sometimes be necessary. This addresses the task, but the two sides are not developed equally: the case for restoration is explained in more detail, whereas the reasons to replace are mainly reduced to danger and the single example. Your opening also says some buildings need repair, but does not clearly distinguish repair from full restoration. Develop the practical and cultural arguments on both sides more evenly, then state your decision criteria precisely in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for the value of restoration, a contrasting paragraph about replacement, and a conclusion. The progression from cultural importance to safety concerns is easy to follow, and examples generally appear beside the points they support. However, some links are mechanical or confusing. For instance, the replacement paragraph begins, “On the other hand there are some people who argue that these buildings should never be replaced,” which repeats the restoration position rather than introducing the opposing view. “However” then makes the relationship harder to follow. Use topic sentences that accurately signal each side, and make references such as “these buildings” and “the situation” more specific. This would make the argument’s progression clearer and cohesion less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “cultural heritage,” “construction,” “restoration,” “demolish,” and “safety measures,” which helps communicate the topic and its key distinctions. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “preservation of the historical buildings.” However, inaccurate word forms, spelling and collocations are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less natural: “cultural assest,” “bring damage,” “much precious matter,” and “sever injuries.” “Construction rituals” is also an unclear choice for describing the distinctive building practices of a place. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than translating ideas word by word, and proofread spelling. For example, “cultural assets,” “pose a risk,” and “serious injuries” would express your intended meanings more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional reasoning (“if needed adequate repair should be done”) and a relative clause (“which people did not allow to demolish”). The main ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “whether new buildings should be build,” “depending on condition,” and “the part of building has fallen”; these involve verb form, article use and sentence construction. There are also punctuation issues, such as the missing comma after “On the other hand” and the run-on spacing before “injuries.” Work on accurate articles and verb forms, and check that clauses are joined and punctuated clearly. More consistent control of these patterns would make your varied sentence structures easier to read.

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