Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-28

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)

While many economists argue that to accommodate more population in the city, newer housing societies should be developed on the outskirts of the city, some people vouch to protect the countryside for its beauty, peaceful environment, and farming potential. I strongly agree with the latter notion, as alternatives can be explored to expand the city without constructing new projects on countryside.

First of all, rural areas offer substantial benefits to citizens. It provides serene and calm environment away from the hustling daily routine of a busy town. Many people like to go on a long drive to relieve stress outside of the city after a hectic day at work. Just by watching huge grasslands, people feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Moreover, many farms are usually established on the outskirts of the city, which are crucial suppliers of fresh produce like vegetables, fruits, eggs, fruits, and meat to the city, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the region. Hence, preserving countryside areas is highly important for a city's economic growth and well-being of people.

On the other hand, to expand and meet the demands of housing, city councils should explore alternatives like building high rise apartments and shared spaces to house maximum people. These multi-storey apartments are economical and environmentally sustainable. Less land space is occupied and modern amenities can be provided easily to the netizens, which in turn helps in reducing land demands. Additionally, people can be encouraged to share their space with others to cut down housing and electricity costs.

In conclusion, it is vital to preserve countryside land available for future generations, and instead build modern housing units within the city to meet the demands of population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position from the introduction through to the conclusion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the arguments regarding the preservation of agricultural land and the alternative of high-density urban development. The essay is well-balanced, exploring both the benefits of the countryside and the practical solutions for housing. To reach a higher band, the student could further develop the 'farming potential' aspect mentioned in the introduction, as this is a strong point that could be expanded with more specific detail regarding food security or environmental impact.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of the countryside and the proposed urban solutions is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Hence', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses some good collocations such as 'serene and calm environment', 'hectic day', and 'environmentally sustainable'. There are minor issues with word choice, such as 'netizens' (which usually refers to internet users, not city dwellers) and the repetitive use of 'fruits' in the second paragraph. However, the range is adequate to convey complex ideas clearly, and the errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar and punctuation. However, there are some minor errors, such as 'It provides serene and calm environment' (missing an article) and 'constructing new projects on countryside' (missing 'the'). Despite these occasional slips, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is strong enough to support the clear expression of ideas.

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

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