Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-14

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 7.0)

In some countries, people consider owning a home to be more important than renting one for several reasons. In my opinion, this is generally a positive situation because home ownership provides greater financial security and stability for individuals and families.

One important reason why people prefer to own a home is that it gives them a greater sense of financial security. Renters must make monthly payments, which can become difficult if they lose their jobs or experience financial problems. In contrast, homeowners who have paid off their mortgages do not have to worry about regular rental payments. Even if they become unemployed, they can continue living in their own property without the fear of being unable to afford rent. In addition, owning a home can be considered a long-term investment, as the property may increase in value over time.

Another reason is that home ownership provides greater stability and freedom. People who own their homes can usually make changes to their property without needing permission from a landlord. They may also feel more comfortable raising children in a place that belongs to them. By contrast, tenants may receive notice to move out, forcing them to find another apartment and adapt to a new neighbourhood. This can be particularly difficult for families, as children may have to change schools and parents may face additional financial and emotional stress.

In conclusion, people may prefer home ownership because it offers financial security, a sense of freedom, and greater stability. I believe this is a positive development, provided that people can afford to buy a home without taking on excessive debt.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task. The essay provides clear reasons why owning a home is important—namely financial security, investment value, and stability—and explicitly discusses whether this is a positive or negative situation in both the introduction and the body paragraphs. A clear, consistent position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well extended and supported, such as contrasting the struggles of renters facing sudden eviction or job loss with the security of homeowners. The response aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with financial security in the second paragraph and stability and freedom in the third paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Even if', 'In addition', and 'By contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used logically and appropriately to separate the introduction, two distinct body points, and the conclusion. There is a clear overall progression that fully satisfies Band 7 requirements.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, such as 'long-term investment', 'financial security', and 'additional financial and emotional stress'. Less common lexical items are attempted with good awareness of style and collocation, as seen in phrases like 'take on excessive debt'. Word choices are generally appropriate and communication is never impeded. While it does not consistently display the fluent flexibility of higher bands, it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a good variety of complex structures, including conditional clauses ('Even if they become unemployed, they can continue living...') and relative clauses ('...people who own their homes...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the grammar and punctuation are under good control. Minor errors are virtually absent, and the structural variety allows the text to flow naturally. The control demonstrated here solidly reflects Band 7 performance.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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