Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

It is often argued by some people that in some countries, owning a home is better than renting one is considered very important. Although some might consider it negative, I believe it to be extremely beneficial. Not only because it provides secrity, financial benefits, but also becuase it helps in futhure.

There are several reasons why people prefer owning home rather renting one. As when every person have their own house, so they do not worry about increase in rent, or being forced by the owener for moving from the house. For instance, it is important in large families, who have children, as it allows them to live in one place for long-term. Consequently, it is evident that it is important factor that should not be overlooked.

However, in many countries houses are very expensive, so people may have to take large loans and spend a significant part of their income on mortgage payments. As this can cause financial stress and reduce the amount of money availabe for other important needs. For example, a family that buys a house at a young age may benefit from an increase in its value over the years. Thus, this can be labelled as the most significant advantage, giving this development a positive outlook.

Finally, owning a home provide financial security. To exemplify, people do not have to pay rent after completing their mortgage.

To sum up, even though owning house might have some drawbacks too, but I believe that the benefit it brings in terms of provide security, financial benefits, but also becuase it helps in futhure can make this development an overall positive one.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: explaining why home ownership is important and expressing a clear opinion on whether it is positive or negative. The ideas are relevant, such as the stability provided by ownership and the financial burden of mortgages. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding 'future' benefits is vague and repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or deeper analysis, particularly regarding the societal or economic implications of home ownership versus renting. The position is clear throughout, but the supporting arguments lack the depth required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the reasons for ownership to the drawbacks and finally the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the repetitive use of 'For instance' and 'To exemplify'. Additionally, some transitions between sentences are abrupt, and the concluding paragraph repeats phrases from the introduction rather than synthesising the main points effectively. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'mortgage payments' and 'financial security'. However, there are several spelling errors ('secrity', 'futhure', 'owener', 'availabe') and some awkward phrasing, such as 'helps in futhure'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and you rely on basic descriptors. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure you proofread for common spelling mistakes, which currently detract from the overall quality of your lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('every person have', 'owning a home provide') and article usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and unnecessary commas. These errors are noticeable and occasionally require the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Reducing the frequency of these errors is essential for moving into the higher band categories.

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

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