Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-10

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)

In many countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might this be the case.. Although living in a self-owned home is beneficial, it could be a negative trend. So, I think many people with a sense of stability and belonging since renting a house can be unpredictable.

There are several reasons why people prefer owning a house over renting one. Firstly, It provides people with a sense of stability and belonging since renting a house can be unpredictable. This is because tenants must depend on landlords who may raise the rent price or decide to sell the property at any time. As a result, tenants may have to make significant adjustments to their budget to afford the rent price or are forced to vacate their abodes. Consequently, it can have a negative impact on their work and their study because they need time to adapt to the new environment. Secondly, owning a home can be a wise investment as real estate tends to be appreciated in value over time. In this way, homeowners can potentially make a profit if they decide to sell their property.

However, I believe homeownership may have negative consequences. One of the major concerns is the financial burden it can place on buyers. Some people decide to take out large loans to purchase a house, which often requires them to work tirelessly to afford the mortgage payments. This can limit their financial flexibility and increase the risk of default if unexpected expenses arise. Additionally, the high demand for real estate can lead to overpriced properties in the market. Many individuals struggle to find a suitable home within their budgets and satisfying their needs.

In conclusion, while owning a home is a popular goal for many people in many countries, it is not a positive situation. Consequently, it can have a negative impact on their work and their study because they need time to adapt to the new environment. So, some people decide to take out large loans to purchase a house, which often requires them to work tirelessly to afford the mortgage payments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: the reasons for valuing home ownership and whether this is positive or negative. Your reasons—stability when renting is uncertain and the possibility of property appreciating—are relevant, and you explain the financial burden of mortgages as a drawback. However, your position is not fully consistent: the opening says ownership “could be a negative trend,” while the introduction also calls it beneficial, and the conclusion’s final sentences repeat supporting details rather than clearly summarising your judgement. Some points, especially the claim that high demand makes homes overpriced, need further explanation. The response meets the required length; 19 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Make your position explicit and consistent, and develop each main reason with a clear explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for reasons and drawbacks, and a conclusion. Sequencing within the body is generally understandable, and connectors such as “Firstly,” “As a result,” and “Additionally” help show relationships. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the introduction repeats the question, and the conclusion reproduces material about adapting to a new environment and mortgage payments instead of drawing the argument together. The opening also contains an incomplete, confusing thought (“So, I think many people with a sense of stability…”). Some linking is mechanical, with several sentences beginning with explicit connectors. Improve cohesion by removing repeated material, using clear references to earlier points, and ensuring each paragraph advances the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “financial burden,” “mortgage payments,” “financial flexibility,” and “default,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “significant adjustments” and “real estate.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, however: “the rent price” is repeated where “rent” would be more natural, and “real estate tends to be appreciated in value” is not idiomatic. “Abodes” sounds overly formal in this context, while “overpriced properties in the market” is less precise than a simpler expression. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they limit naturalness and precision. Focus on common collocations for housing and finance, and avoid using a more elaborate word when a natural one is clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “since,” “because,” and “if.” Many sentences communicate their meaning clearly, for example, “Some people decide to take out large loans to purchase a house.” However, some grammatical errors and punctuation problems remain. The opening includes a sentence fragment (“Why might this be the case..”) and an incomplete construction (“So, I think many people with a sense of stability…”). In “Many individuals struggle to find a suitable home within their budgets and satisfying their needs,” the two parts are not grammatically parallel. Capitalisation after “Firstly” is also inconsistent, and the doubled full stop is incorrect. Check that every sentence has a complete clause, keep coordinated structures parallel, and proofread punctuation.

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