Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-16

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)

It is widely argued that individuals must have their own house rather than rent tenements. This situation is due to renting a house has many disadvantages, though it is a positive development.

There are various reasons behind having own a property. One primary cause is hikes in rent and forced relocation. This is because rental agreements are renewable with an increase in rent every year. As a result, individuals who live in rental property might suffer from financial instability. In addition to that, sometimes individuals are forced to change their location, as the owner has some work in their house or there is a disagreement between the landlord and renting people. Hence, other property for living is not good.

On the other hand, there are significant benefits of homeownership. One crucial advantage is long-term appreciation. This situation is due to real estate generally increasing in value over time, which assures the owner of their overall net worth. Since individuals have their own property, they can also build equity. If the owners buy a home with a mortgage, they can reduce their long-term principal. Not only that, but they can also increase their stake in the property. For instance, individuals who have their own properties have many benefits, such as tax refunds and equity.

In conclusion, there are few reasons, like surges in rent and location changes, that accrue toward owning a house. While the benefits, like appreciation and increasing stake, make it a positive situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and make your view clear in the opening, describing homeownership as positive; the conclusion also restates this position. The reasons given—rising rents and forced moves—are relevant, as are the benefits of appreciation and building equity. However, the explanation of why owning is important is brief, and the second body paragraph focuses mainly on financial advantages rather than developing the broader reasons people value ownership. The example about tax refunds is asserted rather than explained. The response is also five words below the required minimum. To strengthen the response, explain each main idea with a specific consequence or example and ensure the required length is met.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion. The shift from reasons for owning to its benefits is signalled by “On the other hand,” and phrases such as “As a result” help show cause and effect. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: “Hence, other property for living is not good” does not clearly connect the preceding examples to the main point. The conclusion also compresses the argument into a brief summary without fully drawing the ideas together. Some linking phrases feel mechanical or do not express the relationship precisely. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each supporting detail explicitly to the paragraph’s main claim, and make references such as “this situation” more specific.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “rental agreements,” “financial instability,” “real estate,” “appreciation” and “equity,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also an attempt to use less common language. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “rent tenements,” “hikes in rent,” “forced relocation” and “accrue toward owning a house.” These expressions can make the intended meaning less clear, and “property” and “individuals” are repeated frequently. Aim for natural collocations and precise wording rather than choosing formal-sounding terms that do not fit the context. For example, describe rent as “rising” and explain that these pressures may encourage people to buy a home.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect clauses with “This is because” and a conditional sentence beginning “If the owners buy a home with a mortgage.” However, errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. Examples include “This situation is due to renting a house has many disadvantages,” where the clause structure is faulty, and “There are various reasons behind having own a property,” which has an incorrect verb pattern and missing determiner. There are also problems with articles and sentence construction in “other property for living is not good.” Practise building accurate clauses after phrases such as “due to,” and check articles, verb forms and sentence boundaries when editing.

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