Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In many countries, homeownership is considered a major life goal, while renting is seen as temporary or undesirable. This preference is driven by both cultural and financial factors, and in my view, while it has some advantages, it is largely a negative development.

There are two main reasons why owning a home is so important. Firstly, it is a symbol of security and success. In countries like India, a house is not just a property but a matter of social status and family stability. People feel that owning a home provides a sense of permanence - they will not be asked to leave by a landlord, and they have a permanent address for their children. Secondly, it is seen as a better financial investment. Rent is often considered "dead money" because monthly payments go to the landlord with no return. In contrast, buying a house is viewed as a long-term asset that will increase in value over time and can be passed on to the next generation. With rising property prices, many people fear that if they do not buy now, they will never be able to afford it later.

However, I believe this obsession with ownership is more negative than positive. The main drawback is the immense financial pressure it creates. To buy a house, most people have to take a huge loan for 20-30 years, which forces them to live with debt for most of their working life. This makes them less flexible - they cannot easily move to another city for a better job opportunity because their money is tied up in one property. Furthermore, it leads to an inflated housing market. When everyone desperately wants to buy, demand exceeds supply and property prices become unaffordable for young people, leading to social inequality and stress.

In contrast, a healthy rental market, as seen in countries like Germany, offers more freedom, mobility, and less financial risk.

In conclusion, while the desire to own a home is understandable due to the need for security and financial investment, the intense pressure to buy at any cost is a negative trend. It creates a debt-laden society and an unstable housing market. Governments should make renting more secure and socially acceptable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by explaining why homeownership is important (security, social status, and financial investment) and clearly stating their position that this is largely a negative development due to financial pressure and inflexibility. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing cultural expectations in India and the comparison with Germany's rental market. The position is maintained clearly throughout the essay, meeting all criteria for a Band 7.5 or 8.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the reasons for homeownership, the counter-arguments regarding the drawbacks, and a well-synthesised conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In contrast', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, maintaining a cohesive flow that easily satisfies Band 7 requirements.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items such as 'homeownership', 'permanent address', 'dead money', 'inflated housing market', and 'debt-laden society' are used appropriately and demonstrate a good awareness of collocation. While there are no major lexical errors, the vocabulary is slightly short of the consistently sophisticated range required for a Band 8, making a solid Band 7 rating appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay exhibits a good variety of complex structures, including conditional-like clauses ('if they do not buy now, they will never be able to afford it later') and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well. There are occasional minor awkward constructions, but grammar control is strong throughout, ensuring that communication is never impeded. This performance sits comfortably within the Band 7.5 range.

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