Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14
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)
Having your own house is a type of blessing. in few states owning a residency rather renting it, is crucial for public. therefore nowadays, everyone wants own home. because its quite difficult to pay rent at the end of the month, managing different tasks or do some extra undertakings.
In one hand, if an individual's independent, earn a handsome amount of salary, having a good job. so he will definitely go for a new separate living building. owning your own home makes you stress free from burden of rent. easily manage your household routine and improve your focus on many curriculum activities such as; academics, social work, travelling, some business, exploring new communities or culture.
On the other hand, renting house or flat is actually a mental-health stress, because the landlords gradually increase the rent annually. furthermore renters do not qualify for tax deduction interest. there saving schedule is disturbed. they cannot fulfill their desire demand. for example; for a middle-class guy its quite challenging to face all these hardships, managing expense of rent, useful equipment, purchasing clothing stuff and many more.
Finally, living in your own home gives you productivity, by participating in different activities. along with that it improves yours creativity level, by exploring a vast variety of decoration and makes you tension-free. while a rent residency makes you bound and limited resources. monthly-income list disturbed, cannot pursue some extra products. so government needs to build some free apartments and shelters for these middle-class or needy type of people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 inconsistent. While the reasons (financial stability, tax benefits) are relevant, the discussion on whether it is a positive or negative situation is somewhat muddled. The conclusion introduces a new idea—that the government should provide free housing—which is not fully integrated into the previous argument. The ideas are generally relevant but lack the depth and logical extension required for a higher band score. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are somewhat repetitive.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'In one hand' is a misuse of the idiomatic expression 'On the one hand'. Transitions between sentences are sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition into the final paragraph. While there is a clear attempt to structure the argument, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional confusion in referencing make the progression feel somewhat disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'curriculum activities' (likely meaning 'extracurricular activities') and 'desire demand'. The phrasing 'middle-class guy' is too informal for an academic essay. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the range of vocabulary is not sufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. The student relies on basic descriptors and struggles with collocations, such as 'managing expense of rent' instead of 'meeting rental expenses'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are issues with article usage ('renting house'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'because its quite difficult...'). Punctuation is also problematic, with incorrect use of semicolons and commas. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, these are often faulty or poorly constructed. The majority of sentences contain errors, which prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Basic structures are used, but control over more complex grammatical forms is lacking.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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