Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-23

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)

I strongly oppose the idea of demoliting old buildings and replacing them with modern ones. I like the aesthicity those old buildings hold. I respect both styles or architecture and there is no debate that both need pure talent and effort to build. But, I prefer old architectural styles. Those holds something that we cannot replace.

Restoring old buildings are more like a need in order to keep those structures alive. Considering the age of a building there would be wear and tear, its natural and spending money them is worth better than building something newer.

Take Taj Mahal in India as a case, there was a beautiful fountain in the water channel. Modern architects tried hard to learn about the technology they used in the time they built it and ended up destroying the mechanism. I personally had another experience, my college was more than 75 years old, most of the parts of the building were new but the auditorium was very old. It was huge and unique and very old fasioned. Few years back the management tried to renovate it and kind of give the building a modern look. But it changed the whole look and feeling of the auditorium. It looks modern now but with an empty soul.

To conclude, old buildings hold centuries of history and they witnessed a lot of things. More than just a hall or an art galleries we should nuture their value and see the real beauty they holds. Despite all those wear and tears these buildings and standing there with pride and joy. We should celebrate it without damaging its beauty.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear: you favour preserving older buildings, and the Taj Mahal and college auditorium examples make that view relevant and personal. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the case for replacing old buildings is barely presented. You briefly acknowledge that modern architecture also requires talent, but do not explain why governments might choose new buildings, such as safety, accessibility, or lower long-term maintenance costs. Your reasons for restoration are also sometimes asserted rather than developed—for example, that spending on repairs is “worth better” than building anew. To strengthen the response, explain both sides fairly, then compare them and show why your position is more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening position, a paragraph supporting restoration with examples, and a concluding statement. The examples generally follow the point about preserving character, so the reader can understand the overall direction. However, progression is limited because the opposing view is not given its own developed section, and several ideas are joined abruptly. For instance, “Considering the age of a building…” moves directly into the Taj Mahal example without a clear explanation of the link. Connectors such as “But,” “Take…as a case,” and “To conclude” help, but the essay relies on a small, somewhat mechanical set. Use clearer topic sentences and transitions to organise the two perspectives and the comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “architectural styles,” “wear and tear,” “renovate,” “mechanism,” and “history,” and phrases such as “empty soul” communicate your personal response vividly. However, the range is uneven, with repeated general words such as “old,” “building,” and “beautiful,” and several inaccurate or unnatural choices make parts less clear. “Aesthicity” is not an appropriate form here, while “spending money them is worth better” does not express the intended comparison naturally. There are also spelling errors, including “demoliting,” “fasioned,” and “nuture.” Build a more precise range for discussing conservation and redevelopment, and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer structures, including “Considering the age of a building there would be wear and tear” and the sentence describing architects’ efforts to understand the Taj Mahal’s technology. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction occur often enough to distract. Examples include “Restoring old buildings are,” “Those holds,” and “the beauty they holds.” The sentence beginning “Considering the age…” also needs clearer grammatical construction and punctuation, while “spending money them” is missing a necessary preposition. Some short sentences are understandable, but the range remains limited and complex attempts are often faulty. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build longer sentences around one clear main clause.

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

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