Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18

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 7.5)

In many parts of the world, buying a house is seen as far more desirable than living in rented accommodation. There are several reasons behind this, and in my view this attitude is largely a positive one, although it does create certain problems.

The main reason people prefer to own a home is financial security. Rent is money that is paid every month and never returned, whereas mortgage payments gradually build up an asset that belongs to the owner. In countries where property prices rise steadily, a house is also one of the safest investments available, and many people rely on it as a form of savings for their retirement. Another reason is stability. Tenants can be asked to leave when a contract ends, which makes it difficult to settle in one area, while homeowners can stay as long as they wish and are free to decorate or extend their property. In some societies, owning a home is additionally regarded as a sign of success and is expected before marriage, so there is a strong social pressure involved as well.

I believe this situation is mostly positive. Homeowners tend to take better care of their properties and become more involved in their local communities, which benefits neighbourhoods as a whole. Families also gain a sense of permanence that is valuable for raising children. However, there is a negative side. When everybody wants to buy, demand pushes prices up, and young people are often forced to take enormous loans or to live with their parents for many years. This can also reduce mobility, as owners are less willing to move to another city for work.

In conclusion, people value home ownership for financial and social reasons, and while this brings clear advantages, governments should ensure that housing remains affordable for those who cannot buy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. You clearly explain the reasons for the importance of home ownership, such as financial security and social stability, and provide a balanced view on whether this is positive or negative. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between the benefits of personal investment and the broader societal drawbacks like reduced mobility and housing affordability. The response is well-structured and directly answers both components of the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear central theme, and the transition between the reasons for ownership and the evaluation of the situation is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'another reason is', and 'however', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reasons for the trend from your personal evaluation. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the topic. You use precise collocations and topic-specific terminology such as 'rented accommodation', 'mortgage payments', 'financial security', and 'social pressure'. The language is natural and sophisticated, and you avoid repetitive phrasing. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and your ability to use less common items, such as 'permanence' and 'mobility', contributes to a high level of lexical control throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully employ complex sentence forms, such as conditional structures and relative clauses, for example, 'In countries where property prices rise steadily, a house is also one of the safest investments available'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and verb tenses is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall structure of the essay is sophisticated and error-free.

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