Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15

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 7.0)

In some countries, owning a home instead of renting one is considered very important. There are several reasons for this preference, and I believe that it is generally a positive situation, although it can also create some financial pressure.

One major reason why people prefer to own a home is that it provides a sense of security and stability. When people own a house, they do not have to worry about landlords increasing the rent or asking them to leave. This is particularly important for families with children because they can live in the same place for many years. Moreover, owning a property can be considered a long-term investment. House prices may increase over time, allowing homeowners to build wealth and have financial security in the future.

Another reason is that home ownership is often associated with social status and independence. In many societies, having one's own house is seen as an important achievement in life. People may feel more comfortable and independent when they can decorate or renovate their homes according to their own preferences without asking permission from a landlord. In addition, a house can be passed on to children, which may provide financial support for future generations.

In my opinion, this is mostly a positive situation. Home ownership can protect people from rising rental costs and give them a valuable asset for the future. For example, after paying a mortgage for many years, a person can eventually own a property completely. However, buying a home can be difficult for young people because houses are often expensive, and mortgages can create considerable financial pressure.

In conclusion, people value home ownership because it offers stability, independence and financial security. Although purchasing a house can be expensive and stressful, I believe that the long-term advantages generally make this a positive situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify reasons for the importance of home ownership, such as stability, investment potential, and social status. You also express a clear position that this is a positive situation, while acknowledging the counter-argument regarding financial pressure. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of avoiding rent increases and the long-term benefit of mortgage completion. The response is balanced and maintains a consistent focus throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0 or 8.0. To reach the highest band, you could further elaborate on the societal implications of home ownership versus renting in a more global context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'However', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is natural. The structure is coherent throughout, and the use of linking words is neither mechanical nor excessive, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'long-term investment', 'financial security', and 'rising rental costs' are used accurately and appropriately. You also attempt some less common collocations, such as 'build wealth' and 'valuable asset'. While the vocabulary is effective and natural, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions related to economics or housing markets, such as 'property ladder', 'capital appreciation', or 'financial burden'. Overall, the lexical range is good and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'When people own a house, they do not have to worry...' and 'Although purchasing a house can be expensive...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that hinder understanding. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar. To move toward a higher band, you could experiment with more diverse sentence beginnings and perhaps more complex syntactic structures to show even greater flexibility.

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

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