Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26

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 6.5)

In recent decades, growing number of housing has sparked debate over whether rural areas should be developed or strictly preserved. While providing housing is essential. I firmly believe that people must find a balance that allows for controlled without destroyed natural ecosystems and agriculture. So, I will elaborate on reasons with relevant examples in the upcoming paragraphs.

To commence with, one primary reason for protecting the countryside is that the rural lands play an important role in maintaining the natural environment. Forests, grasslands and agricultural areas provide habitats for wildlife and reduce air pollution. If large areas of countryside are replaced by houses, roads and other infrastructure, many animals lose their natural habitats.

Furthermore, excessive construction can reduce the amount of land for producing food. For instance, in India farmland around expanding cities is converted in to residential areas , local communities may become independent on food transported from distant regions.

On the contrary side, Government can not ignore the need for affordable housing, particularly in cities where populations are growing rapidly. A shortage of homes can lead to higher rents and property prices, making it difficult to buy for families and young people to find suitable accommodation. Building taller residential building in suitable urban locations can also accommodate more people without destroying large area of countryside.

To sum up, it can be said that, the need for home is important, but the countryside should not be sacrificed unnecessarily. Government should first focus on redeveloping unused urban land. This would allow housing needs to be met while preserving valuable rural areas for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the task, providing a clear position that advocates for a balanced approach between urban development and environmental protection. Your ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of farmland conversion in India. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully developed; for instance, the suggestion to build taller buildings in urban areas is a strong point that could be expanded upon with more detail regarding the socio-economic benefits. Overall, your response is well-focused and maintains a consistent stance throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', and 'On the contrary side' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the abrupt sentence structure in the introduction ('allows for controlled without destroyed'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'infrastructure', 'residential areas', and 'sacrificed'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'converted in to' (converted into) and 'independent on' (dependent on). While you attempt to use more sophisticated language, these occasional inaccuracies slightly limit the precision of your expression. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist, such as 'growing number of housing' (a growing number of houses), 'without destroyed' (without destroying), and 'Government can not' (The government cannot). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing your focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve your grammatical accuracy.

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

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