Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23

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)

In many areas of the world there is a pressing matter of shortage of housing, and as the cities are already congested, countryside provides adequate lands for new establishments. However, some people are against this notion as they opine that such areas should be protected from urbanisation to maintain its serenity and biodiversity. In my view, in order to address shortage of housing, encroachment of the countryside is well justified.

It is undeniable that countryside offers untouched lands which preserve wildlife and provide abundance of natural resources. Many backwater communities are self-sufficient while engaing themselves in animal husbandary and farming, which flourishes the biodiversity in the ecosystem. If such environments will be encroached by large contruction companies to create housing and infrastructure, the serinity of the countryside reserves will be gravely impacted.

Conversely, many city-dwellers are struggling with inadequate housing which deleteriously affects their quality of life. Since cities are already overcongested, rural areas provide the necessary land to tackle this problem. Consequently, many authorities are planning upcoming residential developments which extend to countryside areas. One instance to exemplify this is the extension of residential complexes in Gurugram, which was earlier a small village on the boundaries of Delhi, in order to accommodate growing population.

In conclusion, although this practice might disturb fragile ecosystems, it is the need of the hour, as drastically growing poplulation has created additional burden on already stretched housing condition in many urban areas. Therefore, in my opinion establishments in the countryside are unavoidable in the future. Nevertheless, a pragmatic approach where proper planning allows small wildlife conservation areas along with residential complexes in the countryside will potentially address urgent housing needs while maintaining valuable ecosystems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt by presenting a balanced view and a firm personal opinion. You acknowledge the importance of protecting the countryside while arguing that the housing crisis necessitates development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the point about urban congestion and the example of Gurugram, which adds credibility to your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-argument is explored with slightly more depth before providing your rebuttal, as this would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

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 cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Conversely', and 'Nevertheless' effectively to guide the reader. The transition between the environmental concerns and the practical necessity of housing is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of your argument. To improve further, ensure that referencing is always precise; for instance, ensure that pronouns clearly link back to their intended antecedents to avoid any minor ambiguity in complex sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including sophisticated terms like 'encroachment', 'deleteriously', 'pragmatic', and 'self-sufficient'. Your word choice is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. There are a few minor errors, such as 'engaing' (spelling) and 'flourishes the biodiversity' (collocation; 'enhances' or 'promotes' would be more natural). You also use 'serinity' instead of 'serenity'. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficiently varied to convey your ideas with precision and style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Your control over grammar is generally strong, with many error-free sentences. There are some minor slips, such as 'drastically growing poplulation' (spelling) and 'the countryside provides' (missing article 'the'). Additionally, in the sentence 'If such environments will be encroached', the use of the future tense is slightly awkward; a present passive construction would be more standard. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, showing a good level of grammatical control.

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

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