Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-12

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 that in some nations owing a home can place a significant financial burden on individuals, I believe that it is largely a positive development because it provides people with greater financial security and long-term stability. In this essay i will discuss about this statement in my upcoming paragraphs.

To begin with, one of the main reason why owing a home is important? The first and foremost reason is financial security and sense of belonging. To more precise, a house is long-term investment because people who owning a home have much more accessibility to decorate it with their own living style and the property value may also increase over time. apart from that they also can settle permanently in one place and they can create a comfortable environment for their family.

I believe that this situation is predominantly positive, provided that people purchases homes with their financial means. Home ownership can give individuals greater independence and control over their living environment. In addition, owning a home can reduce housing costs after a mortgage has been fully repaid, which may be especially advantageous during retirement. Therefore, home ownership should be viewed as a personal financial decision rather than an obligation.

In conclusion, people may prioritize owning a home because it offers financial security, stability and independence, while also being deeply rooted in cultural expectations in some societies, Despite the potential financial pressure involved, I believe that home ownership is general beneficial when it is undertaken responsibly and according to an individuals financial circumstances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, exploring reasons why home ownership is important and discussing whether this situation is positive or negative. The writer presents a clear position from the outset, stating that it is largely a positive development due to financial security and stability. Main ideas are extended and supported, such as mentioning long-term investment, the ability to decorate, and reduced housing costs in retirement. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise in parts, and some arguments are slightly repetitive. Overall, all parts of the prompt are covered sufficiently, aligning well with the Band 6.0 or Band 7.0 descriptors. Because the ideas are relevant and the position is clear throughout, a Band 6.5 is well justified.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion'. However, some cohesive referencing and punctuation are faulty, and the sentence 'To begin with, one of the main reason why owing a home is important?' is punctuated as a question rather than a statement, disrupting the flow. Furthermore, there is occasional misuse of referencing. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical, but the overall progression remains clear, matching the Band 6 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'financial security', 'long-term investment', and 'independence'. However, there are several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as spelling 'owning' as 'owing' multiple times, writing 'i' in lowercase, and using 'general beneficial' instead of 'generally beneficial'. Phrases like 'people who owning a home' also show grammatical interference with lexical choices. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from achieving a higher band. This performance fits the Band 6 descriptor well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure with clauses connected by conjunctions and relative pronouns. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include sentence fragments, incorrect verb forms ('people who owning a home', 'people purchases homes'), missing articles, and lowercase pronoun usage ('i'). Although these errors are noticeable and detract from the polish of the writing, they rarely impede overall communication. The presence of these recurrent errors places the grammar firmly at the Band 6 level.

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