Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

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

It is undeniable that the countryside offers untouched land which preserve wildlife and provide an abundance of natural resources. Many backwater communities are self-sufficient while engaging themselves in animal husbandry and farming, which promotes the biodiversity in the ecosystem. If such environments are encroached by large construction companies to create housing and infrastructure, the serenity of the countryside reserves will be gravely impacted. For example, urbanisation has led to extinction of many wildlife species in the past.

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 the growing population.

In conclusion, although this practice might disturb fragile ecosystems, it is the need of the hour, as a rapidly growing population has created an additional burden on already stretched housing conditions in 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 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position from the introduction through to the conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, with a balanced discussion of both the environmental concerns and the necessity of housing. The example of Gurugram is relevant and effectively supports the argument. The conclusion provides a nuanced perspective by suggesting a pragmatic approach, which demonstrates a high level of engagement with the topic. The response is fully focused on the task requirements throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the environmental arguments and the housing necessity is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Conversely', 'Consequently', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points of view. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is varied and precise, demonstrating a good range of academic and topic-specific language. Phrases such as 'pressing matter', 'deleteriously affects', 'animal husbandry', and 'pragmatic approach' show a sophisticated command of English. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. The student successfully uses less common lexical items to express complex ideas, which is indicative of a strong lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and conditional forms. Most sentences are error-free, and the control of punctuation is generally accurate. There are very occasional minor slips, such as 'which preserve wildlife' (should be 'preserves') and 'encroached by' (should be 'encroached upon'), but these do not interfere with communication. The overall grammatical control is strong and supports the clarity of the argument.

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