Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-18

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)

Some individuals believe that it is critical to protect the countryside and avoid building new homes there, which is understandable as nature needs to be preserved in countryside. I believe that the focus should be on resolving the root cause which is more demand in cities and it can be done by shifting focus to develop smaller cities and villages, so people don't have to move to bigger cities in the first place.

It is like two sides of the coin, on one side there is a need to build new homes as people want to migrate to the city or closer to the city due to higher work opportunities but on the other hand, it is also important to protect the nature reserves, wildlife and farms in the sub urban areas.

One of the reasons for a surge in housing demands in city area is due to higher demand of jobs as there are more offices, factories and generally more customers in cities. As more people migrate to cities, the demand further increases as those people also bring in more needs. So, it becomes a vicious circle. This is the same pattern observed in almost all major cities of the world like New York, New Delhi, Mumbai and Paris. One possible solution which is also adopted in some European countries is for the governemnt to focus development of smaller cities, which in turn can attract people to those cities and eventually disperse the population. If the native place of a person can offer similar opportunities then the urge to moe elsewhere will gradually decrease.

In conclusion, it is important to do a root cause analysis of the problem and resolve that instead of trying to cure the side-effects of the problem. The root cause here is a lack of opportunities in smaller cities. If the government can provide more opportunites in smaller cities, then people will not have to migrate to metropolitan cities, therefore reducing the housing demand in the first place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout. The writer takes a nuanced approach by acknowledging the need to protect the countryside while arguing that the true solution lies in decentralising economic opportunities rather than restricting suburban development. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning major global cities like New York and Mumbai, and referencing European urban planning strategies. The arguments are logical and directly answer the prompt question about whether to protect the countryside or build new homes. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7 by presenting a clear, well-developed position with supported ideas, though some expansion on the direct environmental trade-offs could have elevated the task response even further.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction and thesis statement to the counter-argument, the analysis of the root cause, and finally a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'on the other hand', 'One of the reasons', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating distinct aspects of the discussion. While referencing and substitution are generally well-managed, occasional minor repetition of phrases slightly limits the fluidity, placing the response solidly in the Band 7 range for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, with appropriate terms such as 'nature reserves', 'vicious circle', 'disperse the population', and 'root cause analysis'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in phrases like 'surge in housing demands' and 'metropolitan cities'. However, there are a few minor spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'governemnt' instead of government, and slight awkwardness in phrasing like 'native place of a person'. These minor inaccuracies do not impede communication, allowing the piece to comfortably achieve a Band 6.5, rounded to a Band 6 based on standard IELTS scoring conventions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating the ability to construct multi-clause sentences such as 'If the native place of a person can offer similar opportunities then the urge to move elsewhere will gradually decrease.' There is good control over grammar and punctuation overall, with frequent error-free sentences. However, a few structural slips persist, such as 'which is understandable as nature needs to be preserved in countryside' (missing an article) and a minor typo ('urge to moe elsewhere'). These errors do not impede communication. The variety of complex structures and general control align well with the Band 6.5 descriptor, placing this response at a Band 6.0.

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