Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-25

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)

Home is a place which is not bought but made from a house by the residents living in it over a period of time.The rate of rent varies in countries but with the passage of time every individual yearns for a one constant place where they can live ,make changes as they want without worrying about paying rent every single month or receiving an unforeseen eviction notice from the landlord.

In many countries owning a home or in this case a house in preferred over renting it ,because most of the times the rent is substantially high particulalry if the family wants to live in an area bulit with upgraded amenities and a secure area.Most of the people who has lived in rented homes claims that if they calculate the rent which they have paid over the years, they could have bought a house with the same money.Moreover if an inidividual has a home it brings that feeling of certaninity and security.We can make changes to the structure or make any additions to our home at any time we desire, without the fear of not being allowed by the landlord. Additionally,there is always this hanging knife over our heads that the landlord might give an eviction notice anytime they want,with only a few weeks to find and then followed by the hassle of moving , which is a task in itself.Many people work hard and like to build or buy their own homes with the features and amenities they want according to their family size whereas a rented place is already build not keeping in view which family might fit and which wouldnt.

Therefore, I believe it is a positive situation that in some countries including my home country Pakistan ,ownnig your own home ,your own place is essential and a comforting feeling.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the prompt: you explain why people prefer ownership, citing rent costs, security, freedom to alter a property, and the risk of eviction, then state that you view this as positive. These are relevant reasons, and the reference to Pakistan makes your position personal and clear. However, the discussion is unevenly developed. The claim that rent paid over time could buy a house is presented as something “most” renters say, without an example or qualification, and the positive judgement is only briefly restated at the end. Develop the consequences of ownership more fully—for instance, how stability benefits families—while acknowledging a possible drawback, such as the financial commitment. This would make the response more balanced and fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable progression: an opening reflection on the meaning of home, a main paragraph giving reasons for ownership, and a concluding statement of your view. Connectors such as “Moreover,” “Additionally,” and “Therefore” help signal relationships between ideas. However, most of the explanation is packed into one long paragraph, so distinct reasons are not clearly grouped, and the opening definition does not lead smoothly into the argument. Some links are mechanical, while the final sentence repeats the idea of having “your own home” rather than drawing the reasons together. Use separate paragraphs for the reasons and your evaluation, and make references such as “this” or “it” clearly point to a specific idea. This would create clearer progression and more controlled cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “unforeseen eviction notice,” “secure area,” “amenities,” and “structure,” and these choices generally communicate your ideas. There are also attempts at more expressive phrasing, such as “hanging knife over our heads,” though this is not a natural collocation in this context. Several spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “certaninity,” “inidividual,” “particulalry,” and “ownning,” and phrases such as “a one constant place” and “already build” are awkward. These do not prevent the reader from understanding the main argument, but they reduce precision and fluency. Prioritise accurate spelling and natural collocations, and choose formal, direct expressions over unusual imagery.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses beginning “because” and “whereas,” and the main meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. For example, “most of the people who has lived” should use a plural verb, and “a home or in this case a house in preferred” has an incorrect verb form. The opening sentence also runs directly into the next sentence without a space after the full stop, while several commas are separated from the preceding word. Long sentences, especially the one about an eviction notice and moving, would be easier to control if divided. Review subject–verb agreement and proofread punctuation while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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