Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-28
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)
In many countries, owning a house is considered an important goal in life, while renting a property is often viewed as a temporary arrangement. There are several reasons for this attitude, and I believe that it is generally a positive situation, although it can also create financial pressure.
Another reason is social and emotional stability. Homeowners usually have greater freedom to decorate or renovate their properties according to their preferences. They also do not have to worry about landlords increasing the rent or asking them to leave. For families, owning a house can provide a stable environment for children and create a stronger sense of belonging to a community.
However, the desire to own a home can sometimes have can sometimes have negative consequences. people may take large loans that they struggle to repay, which can cause considerable financial stress. In addition, young people may delay other important goals because they saving money for a house.
In conclusion, home ownership is highly valued because it provides financial security, independence and stability. In my opinion, this is mostly a positive development, provided that people do not take on unaffordable debt to purchase a property.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
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 essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement at only 193 words. This lack of length prevents the full development of ideas, particularly in the introduction and the body paragraphs, which remain somewhat superficial. While the position is clear, the under-development of arguments means the response does not fully satisfy the requirements of the task. To improve, you must expand on your points with more detailed explanations and relevant examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas, although the transitions are somewhat basic. The progression of ideas is logical, but the brevity of the text limits the complexity of the cohesion. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the relationships between sentences are more sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You have used some topic-specific terms like 'temporary arrangement', 'financial pressure', and 'social and emotional stability'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated lexical items. There are no significant spelling errors, but the overall vocabulary lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to demonstrate a wider range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as the repetition in 'can sometimes have can sometimes have' and the missing auxiliary verb in 'they saving money'. Despite these, the meaning remains clear throughout. The control of punctuation is generally good. To improve, you should aim for a higher frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensure that your proofreading catches minor slips like repeated words or missing verbs.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.