Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might this be the case? Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?
Student answer (Band 5.5)
It it widely acknowledged that this essay explores both the positive and negative sides of owning a home rather than renting one is very important for some people.Every subject has two sides, and understanding both is essential for a complete perspective.It will highlight points like financial pressure, maintenance and long term responsibility and some positive points like financial security and investment, stability and independence. Offering a balanced view of the topic. This discussion will also focuson relevant examples and lead to a thoughtful conclusion .
The most concerning and challenging part, which was become a trend like financial pressure buying a house is very expensive people may need large mortgages and spend decades repaying them. This can cause financial stress, especially for young people. In maintenance and responsibility homeowners have to pay for repairs, maintenance and taxes .
On the contrary, there are strong reasons to believe that a positive approach is financial security and investment. A house is a long-term investment. Sometimes property value can increase over time and owners can build wealth instead of paying rent every month . In Stability and independence homeowners do not have to worry about landlords increasing rent or ending a tenancy. They can decorate or modify their house according to their preferences and it also provides sense of security for families.
From what has been discussed above,it can be concluded that renting house or owning a house is a debatable topic and the arguments presented have led to divided opinions among the experts and the general public.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the importance of home ownership and an opinion on whether this is positive or negative. However, the development is quite limited. The reasons provided (financial pressure vs. investment/stability) are relevant but lack depth and specific examples. The introduction is somewhat repetitive and fails to clearly state a personal position, which is a requirement for a higher band. The conclusion is also generic and does not synthesize the arguments effectively. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations and ensure your position is clearly stated and maintained throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes awkward, such as starting sentences with 'In maintenance and responsibility' or 'In Stability and independence'. These phrases do not function well as transitions. The flow between ideas is occasionally disjointed, and the referencing is sometimes unclear. While there is an overall logical arrangement, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive sentence structure hinder the progression of ideas. Improving the variety of transition signals would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'mortgages', 'tenancy', and 'financial security'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'which was become a trend' and 'a positive approach is financial security'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic sentence structures. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'It it widely acknowledged' contains a typo, and 'which was become a trend' is grammatically incorrect. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct verb tenses, and proofreading for punctuation errors will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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