Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-27
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 6.5)
In this contemporary society, owning a home has become increasingly important. Some people argue that owning a home provides a sense of independence, while critics say that renting is the most suitable option. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe owning a property is the most reasonable option.
There are several reasons why people favour rental accommodation. Firstly, renting is really necessary in big cities as people need to move to large cities to get advanced education, quality healthcare systems, and better career opportunities. If everyone who moves to the city considers ownership, it would be very difficult for cities to accomodate such a great population due to insufficient land availability. In this case, rental apartments and homes are much more realistic options. Secondly, not everyone can afford to buy their homes due to financial instability. Owning a home requires a significant amount of money, and for disadvantaged people collecting a huge figure may take several years and sacrifices. In order to avoid these problems, individuals may find rental homes a more realistic approach.
On the other hand, in many countries people choose owning a home. Firstly, private homes can give them liberty and prevent them from stricter rules and regulations of rental accommodations. Individuals may get a sense of security and freedom in their own houses and can design them according to their taste and preferences. As a result, nobody can ask them to leave the home. Secondly, purchasing a home can help you save monthly income that would otherwise be given to the house owner. Although buying a home requires a one-time huge investment, it prevents you from giving part of your monthly income to rental expenses. As a result, individuals may use this money for other important needs including education and healthcare.
All things considered, although renting a home can provide you with a suitable and comfortable shelter, I believe owning a home is the most suitable approach due to the benefits of liberty and security. The advantages of purchasing a property outweigh its disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The student addresses all parts of the prompt well. In the introduction, the writer outlines both the reasons why home ownership is important and presents a clear position regarding whether this is a positive or negative situation, stating that owning a property is the most reasonable option. The body paragraphs effectively explore both sides of the argument: the first body paragraph discusses why renting is necessary in cities due to population and financial constraints, while the second explores the benefits of home ownership such as liberty and financial savings. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning, aligning comfortably with a Band 7.0 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introductory overview to arguments for renting, arguments for owning, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'All things considered', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical ('Firstly', 'Secondly' are repeated in consecutive paragraphs). Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly through the writer's arguments, which fits the criteria for Band 6.5 to 7.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'contemporary society', 'financial instability', and 'one-time huge investment' show a solid grasp of topic-specific language. There are some minor lexical imperfections or slight awkwardness, such as 'collecting a huge figure' instead of 'accumulating a large sum' and 'house owner' instead of 'landlord', but these do not impede communication. The writer successfully attempts some less common vocabulary, justifying a Band 6.5 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional-style clauses ('If everyone who moves to the city considers ownership...') and concessive clauses ('Although buying a home requires a one-time huge investment...'). There are some minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'people choose owning a home' instead of 'people choose to own a home' and 'accomodate' (spelling slip). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, with many sentences remaining entirely error-free, pointing clearly to a Band 6.5 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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