Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-05

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 7.0)

It is often argued that the countryside should be protected instead of being used for building new homes. I completely agree with this view because preserving the natural environment is essential and existing urban areas can be developed more efficiently.

One major reason is that the countryside plays an important role in protecting the environment and supporting wildlife. Building large numbers of houses in rural areas can destroy natural habitats, reduce green spaces, and increase pollution. For example, forests and farmland are often cleared to make room for new housing developments, which can negatively affect plants and animals. As a result, biodiversity may decline, and the natural beauty of the countryside can be permanently damaged. Therefore, protecting rural areas is essential for maintaining a healthy environment for future generations.

Furthermore, governments should make better use of available land within cities instead of expanding into the countryside. This can be achieved by redeveloping unused buildings, improving existing infrastructure, and constructing high-rise residential apartments. For instance, many cities have successfully transformed abandoned industrial sites into modern housing communities without destroying rural land. Consequently, more homes can be provided while preserving valuable countryside. In my opinion, this is a more sustainable solution because it balances housing needs with environmental protection.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the countryside should be protected from unnecessary housing developments. Governments should focus on improving urban areas rather than sacrificing natural landscapes, as this approach benefits both society and the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt clearly and maintains a consistent position throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with logical arguments regarding environmental protection and urban redevelopment. However, the response is 245 words long, which is slightly below the 250-word minimum requirement. This failure to meet the length constraint impacts the overall task achievement score, as the development of ideas is slightly curtailed by the brevity. To improve, ensure that you expand on your examples or provide a more detailed concluding thought to comfortably exceed the word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, and the progression of the argument is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the central topic of each paragraph is clearly stated. The writing flows smoothly, and the use of referencing is accurate throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. You have used topic-specific terms such as 'biodiversity', 'urban areas', 'infrastructure', and 'sustainable solution' appropriately. While the range is adequate, it does not consistently demonstrate the 'less common' lexical items required for a higher band. The word choices are natural and accurate, and there are no spelling errors. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to urban planning and environmental conservation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used conditional structures and relative clauses effectively, such as '...if the countryside is protected...' (implied) and '...which can negatively affect plants and animals.' The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over complex structures. This is a strong performance in terms of grammatical accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.