Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-07

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 5.5)

Nowadays, in most of the cities, people need new houses to live in. Therefore, some individuals claim that homes should be built in rural areas, while few ponder that we should preserve the countryside areas. I will discuss both views along with my perspective in the subsequent paragraphs.

To commence with the former view, there are many reasons why people believe that new homes should be constructed in rural areas. The predominant one is that, as in these areas there are lot of farms, so people claim that by cleaning that types of areas they can make space for the houses. Secondly, as in the villages are also open space for trees and common areas for local people, so they can make a house on that areas.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that countryside areas are good for organic farming, as well as most of the daily-use stuff is also prepared by the local people in those areas. Hence, we do not need to disturb the local people. To cite an example, a poll was conducted regarding people's opinions on whether they want to live in the countryside or in the cities. Thus, most people prefer to live in cities because they think that there are more facilities available.

I believe that, higher authorities should construct high-rise buildings. So that the majority of the population can live under one roof. Also, they can make all the facilities available to them in nearby areas.

In conclusion, although there is some space in the rural areas to live, in my opinion, authorities should construct more apartments so that more folks can enjoy their life in one building.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both sides of the issue and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. For example, the argument regarding 'cleaning' rural areas to build houses is vague and lacks logical depth. The second body paragraph is somewhat off-topic, as it discusses a poll about city versus country living rather than focusing on the environmental or social impact of building in the countryside. To reach a higher band, you need to provide more specific, well-reasoned arguments that directly address the tension between housing needs and environmental preservation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices like 'To commence with,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs is weak. For instance, the transition from discussing organic farming to a poll about city living in the second body paragraph is abrupt and lacks a clear connection to the main topic. Improving the use of referencing and logical connectors would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrases such as 'new houses,' 'good for,' and 'make space.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'cleaning that types of areas' and 'daily-use stuff.' To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to urban planning, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic factors. Using more precise terminology would help convey your ideas with greater clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder readability. Examples include 'as in these areas there are lot of farms' (missing article), 'they can make a house on that areas' (plurality error), and 'higher authorities should construct' (unnecessary comma). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without unnecessary punctuation.

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

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