Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-02

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, owning a home instead of renting one is considered extremely important. This essay will discuss the main reasons for this preference and explain why I believe that home ownership is generally a positive development.

There are several reasons why people prefer to own their homes. First, owning a property provides a sense of security and stability. Unlike tenants, homeowners do not have to worry about landlords increasing the rent or asking them to leave the property. This is particularly important for families who want to live in the same place for many years. Second, a house is often considered a long-term financial investment. Although purchasing a home can be expensive, its value may increase over time, allowing owners to build wealth and have financial security in the future. In addition, homeowners can make changes to their properties without needing permission from a landlord.

I believe that this situation is mostly positive. Home ownership can provide people with greater independence and a stable place to live. It can also encourage individuals to save money and plan for their future. Furthermore, owning a home can be beneficial after retirement because people may no longer need to pay monthly rent. However, the strong desire to own a property can also create financial pressure, especially when house prices are very high. Some people may take large loans and experience difficulties repaying them.

In conclusion, people may value home ownership because it provides stability, independence and a potential financial investment. Although buying a home can create financial pressure, I believe that the advantages generally outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by explaining the reasons for valuing home ownership and presenting a clear position that it is a positive development. The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression with a maintained position throughout. Main ideas, such as financial security and stability, are extended and supported with relevant explanations. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise or touch briefly on points without deeper extension, which keeps the score at this level rather than higher. To reach the next level, the ideas could be developed with more specific examples or nuanced arguments exploring potential drawbacks in greater depth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with the introduction of reasons and a clear stance, moving into body paragraphs that systematically address the prompt, and finishing with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader, demonstrating flexible management of cohesion, though slightly more subtle transitional phrases would elevate the style further. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, employing appropriate terms such as 'financial security', 'long-term financial investment', and 'independence'. There are attempts to use less common items with an awareness of style and collocation, such as 'build wealth' and 'create financial pressure'. However, the vocabulary remains somewhat standard and lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions characteristic of a higher band. Occasional limitations in the variety of lexical choices prevent the response from achieving a higher score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response features a good variety of complex structures, such as concessive clauses ('Although purchasing a home can be expensive...') and relative clauses ('...families who want to live in the same place...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the writer maintains good control of grammar and punctuation throughout. Minor errors are largely absent, reflecting a strong command of sentence forms and agreement. To push into the highest band, the writer would need to demonstrate even greater mastery over a wider range of sophisticated syntactic structures with near-absolute consistency.

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