Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-30

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 6.0)

There is always a divided opinion on whether old buildings, such as townhalls and art galleries, should be restored, even though it can be costly On the otherhand some people argue that governments should replace them with new, modern buildings.

People in favour of restoring old buildings say that by doing so the cultural identity of the place is protected. According to them, the old buliding when restored, gives the place its soul as the stories associated with those buildings lives on. It could also serve as attractive tourist spots thereby contributing to the economy of that place.

Alternatively, some people believe that it makes sense for government to replace old buildings with new one as the new buildings will have modern facilities and infrastructure. It will also be constructed with latest construction technology making them more robust. New buildings can be built with latest safety standards. These buildings also have a long life, thereby reducing the maintenance and repair costs.

I firmly believe that old buildings should be restored even if it is costly. Old buildings are the identity of any place. It tells a story and replacing old buildings with new ones would mean losing out on all those stories. We can definitely build new buildings but not at the cost of old ones. Paris has done a great job at this. Paris has been planned in a way that the main city consists of all the restored old buildings, which looks stunning. They have built a seperate area where all the new buildings can come up. This is a model that can followed. Let us save a piece of history for our generations to come.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a clear preference for restoring old buildings, so the response covers the main requirements. The case for restoration is supported with cultural identity, tourism and the example of Paris; the case for replacement also gives relevant benefits, including modern facilities, safety and lower maintenance costs. However, these points are not developed equally: the advantages of new buildings are listed rather than explained or illustrated, and the Paris example is asserted without much detail to show how the proposed separation works. To strengthen the response, explain the trade-offs more fully and connect each example directly to your reasoning. Your position is clear, but some supporting ideas remain general or under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a final paragraph giving your opinion. This makes the discussion easy to follow, and transitions such as “Alternatively” and “I firmly believe” signal changes in direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes list-like, particularly in the paragraph about modern buildings, where several benefits are added without showing how they relate. Some references are also unclear: “It tells a story” follows “old buildings” but uses a singular pronoun, and “This is a model” could be more explicitly linked to the Paris example. Use clearer referencing and develop links between claims so cohesion feels less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “cultural identity,” “tourist spots,” “safety standards,” and “maintenance and repair costs.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and some less common expressions help make the discussion relevant to the topic. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, such as “the old building … gives the place its soul,” “new one,” and “latest construction technology.” There are also spelling and spacing errors, including “townhalls,” “buliding,” “otherhand,” and “seperate.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce accuracy and polish. Aim for more precise collocations and proofread compound words and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “even if it is costly” and a relative clause in “where all the new buildings can come up.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are noticeable. For example, “the stories associated with those buildings lives on” has subject–verb disagreement, while “It tells a story” does not agree with the plural subject “Old buildings.” The opening sentence also needs punctuation before “On the other hand,” and “a model that can followed” is missing “be.” Review agreement, passive constructions and sentence boundaries. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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