Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

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 8.0)

The rapid growth of population in many part of the world has created an increasing demand for housing. In some areas, this has led to proposals to construct new homes on countryside and agricultural land. While I accept that providing adequate housing is essential, I believe that protecting rural areas should be given greater priority because of their environmental and economic importance.

One major reason for preserving the countryside area is because of its contribution to the natural environment. Rural areas contain forests, rivers, farmland and habitats for numerous species. If large areas of this land are replaced with residential developments, wildlife may lose its natural habitat and local ecosystems can be seriously disrupted. In addition, green spaces help to absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flooding and improve air quality. Therefore, allowing cities to spread continuously into surrounding countryside could create environmental problems that are far more difficult to solve in the future.

Another important consideration is the loss of agricultural land. As the global population continues to increase, countries need sufficient farmland to produce food. For instance, rapidly expanding cities can consume large areas of farmland on their outskirts, leaving fewer resources available for local food production.

Governments cannot simply refuse to build new homes when there is a genuine housing shortage. A more sustainable solution would be to make better use of land that has already been developed. Empty commercial buildings, abandoned industrial sites and underused urban areas could be converted into housing. In addition, constructing apartment buildings and encouraging higher-density development would allow more people to live in cities without consuming large amounts of rural land.

In conclusion, although the provision of new housing is undoubtedly important, I believe that building on the countryside should be avoided whenever possible. By redeveloping urban areas and making more efficient use of existing lands, governments can address housing shortages while preserving the natural and agricultural resources that future generations will depend upon.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it consistently throughout the essay. Each paragraph is well-developed with relevant supporting arguments, such as the environmental impact of habitat loss and the necessity of preserving agricultural land for food security. The inclusion of a counter-argument regarding the need for housing, followed by a practical, sustainable solution (redeveloping urban sites), demonstrates a sophisticated approach to the prompt. Your ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion effectively synthesises your main points without introducing new information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the problem (housing shortage) and the solution (urban redevelopment) is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'For instance', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The flow is natural, and the relationship between sentences is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'rapid growth of population', 'residential developments', 'local ecosystems', and 'sustainable solution' show a strong command of topic-specific language. There is a good level of precision in your word choice, and you avoid repetition. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, incorporating a few more idiomatic or less common collocations could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey your ideas with clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If large areas of this land are replaced...') and concessive clauses ('Although the provision of new housing is...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are very few minor slips, such as 'in many part of the world' (should be 'parts'), but these are non-systematic and do not impede communication. Your ability to construct complex arguments with grammatical precision is evident throughout the text.

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