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 people mostly have their own home. Only those who live in different country for some kind of work or studies they live in a flat. Mostly people pay rent where they live in a flat because they do not have huge amount to buy a home to live.
In my opinion, people should live in a home as compare to a rental house or a flat because people who live in their own home they only pay taxes and bills but people who live in a rental places they also pay rent where they are living per month. In some cases people need to stay not that much long in a different country so they prefer to live in a rental home for a short period of time.
In my point of view this situation play a vital role in our life. If I say living in a rental home is good for those who live in such kind of circumstances where they can not afford their own home. Living in your own home is much better because here you have your own privacy you can live your life according to yourself.
This is either not positive or negative situation because this kind of situations depends on a person lifestyle. If a person can afford to buy a home it is good because he can live with his family and he did not have any kind of stress to pay the rent every month. On the other hand, the person who live in a rental place he always think about that he need to pay the rent of the home where he is living.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: why home ownership is important and whether it is a positive or negative situation. However, the development of ideas is limited. For example, the explanation for why people prefer ownership—citing privacy and financial stability—is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. The discussion on whether it is positive or negative is also underdeveloped, as the essay concludes that it depends on the individual's lifestyle without providing a clear, sustained argument. To improve, you should expand on the societal or economic implications of home ownership versus renting, rather than focusing primarily on individual financial stress.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'In my opinion', 'In my point of view', and 'On the other hand' are used, but the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are often weak. For instance, the jump between discussing taxes and the duration of stay in a country lacks a smooth logical flow. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'this kind of situations', where the antecedent is not precisely defined. More varied linking words are needed to improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple terms like 'home', 'flat', 'good', and 'live'. There is a lack of less common lexical items or collocations that would demonstrate a higher level of proficiency. For example, instead of 'huge amount', terms like 'substantial capital' or 'financial resources' would be more appropriate. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'stay not that much long', which sounds unnatural. Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic and precise terminology is essential for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors. For example, 'Only those who live in different country for some kind of work or studies they live in a flat' is grammatically incorrect and lacks proper subordination. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the person who live' instead of 'the person who lives'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall control of complex structures is inconsistent, which limits the score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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