Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-11-02

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 an ongoing debate whether, the old buildings should be renovated or replaced with the new ones. Some people argue that they should be restored and some people say that these buildings should be replaced with modern structures. I believe that, these old structures should be restored as it represents the cultural heritage and history of the country.

To begin with, some people believe that restoring these buildings preserve the heritage and history of the country. Moreover, they reflect traditions, cultures, and architectural styles of the past. They also contribute to the economy of the nation. For example, tourists are attracted to visit these places to learn about the past history. Moving further, renovating the old buildings is more environmentally friendly than demolishing them as it reduces construction waste .

One the other hand , some people believe that replacing old buildings with new ones is a better option. This is because the old buildings may be unsafe due to weak foundations, damaged walls or outdated electrical systems. Building new facilities may provide better protection, new technologies and efficient use of space. For example, art gallery may provide better lighting and more space for visitors.

In my opinion, though constructing new buildings have advantages but renovating the old ones are important as they are the valuable assets of the country.

In conclusion, while renovating old one preserve the historical value and building new ones provide modern technologies. The government should try to make a balance between preservation and modern development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both sides of the discussion and state a clear preference for restoration, linking it to cultural heritage and history. The points about tourism and construction waste support this view, while safety, technology and space provide relevant reasons for replacing older buildings. This meets the task well, and your conclusion recognises the need to balance preservation with development. However, some ideas are only briefly explained: for instance, you mention that tourism contributes to the economy without showing how, and the example of improved gallery lighting is not developed. To strengthen the response further, explain the consequences of each point and make your own position more consistently explicit in the final paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, your opinion and a conclusion. The progression from heritage benefits to the practical case for new buildings is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with” and “On the other hand” help distinguish the arguments. This is a coherent arrangement, though some linking is mechanical and a few references are unclear. For example, “these places” could refer to old buildings, but the reference is not fully precise, and “In my opinion” repeats the position already given in the introduction without adding much development. Use transitions more selectively and connect each example directly to the claim it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “cultural heritage,” “architectural styles,” “construction waste,” “weak foundations” and “outdated electrical systems.” These choices make the main ideas clear, and you attempt some less common expressions relevant to preservation and development. However, several phrases are imprecise or awkwardly collocated, such as “past history,” “valuable assets” and “provide better protection.” Repetition of “old buildings,” “new buildings” and “modern” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise alternatives and vary references to the buildings, while checking that chosen phrases fit their context. These improvements would make the argument sound more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “though” and a reason clause introduced by “as.” Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make sentences awkward. For example, “restoring these buildings preserve” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the old structures should be restored as it represents” has unclear agreement and reference. Articles and sentence punctuation also need attention, as in “art gallery may provide” and the comma after “debate” in the opening. The sentence “though constructing new buildings have advantages but renovating…” combines two contrasting structures incorrectly. Practise agreement, articles and punctuation, and simplify complex sentences when needed.

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