Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21
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)
Many countries prefer to own a home rather then live in rent rooms and house it is very crucial for individuals. While the urge to own property provides financial safety and independence. I believe this situation is mostly positive, despite the burden of long-term loan commitments.
On the one hand, numerous people think that own home provides privacy and personal space. This is because people feel freedom in their home. They can decorate to their home according their favourite wall colour and furniture. In addition people live in their home without any problem, sometime individuals suffer from mental stress because they are paying rent every weeks. As a result, if people have home they can live without any burden. To illustrate, a large number of people cannot pay rent because they do not have sufficient money to handle their living expenses. Consequently, they run far away without pay rent.
On the other hand, numerous people cannot afford private house. The main reason for this that they do not able to pay long term bank loan, since they do not financial capable to pay monthly EMI As a consequence, they can faces a lot of problems. For instance, If people can afford new house they can purchase it, but some people do not financial stable, therefore they should not buy new house.
To conclude, owning house many significant benefits such as privacy and personal space. However, if people do not have sufficient money to buy new house they can suffer from mental stress and depression because they cannot able to pay loan.
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 it is positive or negative. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention privacy and financial stress, the arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the point about 'running away without paying rent' is not clearly linked to the broader social context of home ownership. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a clear, well-supported argument that directly answers the 'why' and 'positive/negative' aspects of the prompt with more sophisticated reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. For example, the transition between the benefits of decorating a home and the stress of paying rent is abrupt. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the conclusion and the previous arguments feels slightly disconnected. Improving the variety and precision of linking words will help your ideas flow more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'bad', or 'problems' and repeat words such as 'home' and 'money' frequently. There are also issues with word formation and collocation, such as 'live in rent rooms' (should be 'rented rooms') and 'do not financial capable' (should be 'are not financially capable'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that words are used in their correct grammatical form.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There is a high frequency of grammatical errors throughout the essay, which occasionally impedes the reader's understanding. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('numerous people think that own home'), missing articles, and incorrect sentence structures ('they do not able to pay'). While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often faulty, such as 'If people can afford new house they can purchase it, but some people do not financial stable'. You need to focus on basic sentence construction, specifically the correct use of 'to be' verbs and modal verbs, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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