Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many places, new homes are needed, but the only space available for building them is in the countryside. Some people believe it is more important to protect the countryside and not build new homes there.

What is your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 7.5)

With increasing population in every part of the country, it is necessary for the government to make affordable houses. However, they only have limited spaces for building apartments, so they are considering developing them in the rural areas. It is argued by a section of society that authorities should conserve the countryside area by prohibiting construction in farmlands . I believe that is undeniable that people need affordable and accessible housing but ruining forests or farmland for houses is not appropriate solution.

The main reason for protecting countryside area is that it provides so many environmental benefits. Green areas, forests and farmlands are the habitats of wildlife, supports air quality and reduces the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from air that produces the green house effect. If large part of the rural area is replaced by the big residential buildings then many animals may lose their natural habitats. To make land clear, they also have to do deforestation which will cause increase in pollution and increase in global warming. For example, uncontrolled construction in the countryside area can destroy the productive agricultural land that is useful for producing food for people.

However, the need of affordable housing cannot be ignored. Due to rise in population many families are struggling to find suitable houses for them. Instead of using agricultural land for making extensive housing, government should efficiently use the land that is already existing in the urban areas. For instance, empty buildings can be converted into the residential apartments. Cities can develop high-rise housing and residential areas on unused land. This would allow more people to accommodate without causing the unnecessary damage to the environment.

In conclusion, although providing better housing is important, protecting natural environment is beneficial in long-term. With better housing planning and responsible developments both housing needs and environment protection can be achieved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the task and maintained a clear position throughout. Your introduction clearly states your stance, and the body paragraphs provide relevant arguments for both protecting the environment and the necessity of housing. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the suggestion to repurpose existing urban land as an alternative to rural development. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are slightly more specific; for instance, instead of mentioning 'uncontrolled construction' generally, you could refer to a specific type of urban planning policy or a hypothetical city model to further strengthen your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use transition signals such as 'However,' 'The main reason for,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. While the structure is sound, some cohesive devices are used in a slightly mechanical way. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better highlight the contrast between environmental protection and housing needs. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'deforestation,' 'residential apartments,' and 'uncontrolled construction.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'make land clear' (should be 'clear the land') and 'accommodate' (which usually requires an object, e.g., 'accommodate more people'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the precision is sometimes lacking. To improve, focus on more natural collocations and ensure that verbs are used correctly with their intended objects to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some recurring grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' rural areas, 'the' environment) and minor prepositional errors (e.g., 'in the rural areas' vs 'in rural areas'). Additionally, there is a slight error in the opening: 'that is undeniable' should be 'it is undeniable.' Despite these slips, your meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, focus on consistent article usage and refining your control over complex sentence structures.

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