Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-30

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 8.5)

In many countries, the demand for new housing is increasing, while suitable land in cities is becoming limited. As a result, some people argue that new homes should be built in the countryside, whereas others believe that rural areas should be protected. In my opinion, protecting the countryside should be given greater priority, although carefully planned housing development may sometimes be necessary.

There are several reasons why rural areas should be preserved. First, the countryside provides important natural habitats for wildlife and contributes to environmental sustainability. Large-scale construction can destroy forests, agricultural land and natural ecosystems. In addition, rural areas often produce food for nearby cities, so converting farmland into residential areas could reduce local food production. For example, if large amounts of farmland surrounding a city were replaced with housing, the region could become more dependent on food transported from distant areas.

Another concern is that uncontrolled development in rural areas can create long-term infrastructure problems. New communities require roads, public transportation, schools, hospitals and other services. Providing these facilities in remote areas can be expensive for governments. Moreover, people living in newly developed rural communities may have to travel long distances to work or access essential services, which can increase traffic and pollution.

However, completely preventing construction in the countryside may not be practical in areas experiencing serious housing shortages. Governments need to ensure that people have access to affordable and suitable homes. One possible solution is to make better use of land that has already been developed. For instance, abandoned industrial sites, empty buildings and underused urban land can be converted into residential properties. Higher-density housing in suitable parts of cities can also help accommodate a growing population without unnecessarily destroying rural landscapes.

In conclusion, although building homes in the countryside may sometimes be unavoidable, I believe that protecting rural areas should generally be the priority. Governments should first focus on urban redevelopment and efficient use of existing land before allowing construction on valuable countryside.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5

Your response fully addresses all parts of the prompt with a well-developed, clear position. You directly tackle the dilemma between building new homes in the countryside and protecting rural areas, offering a nuanced view that prioritizes preservation while acknowledging the necessity of carefully planned development. Your ideas are thoroughly supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the potential impact on food production and the infrastructure challenges faced by remote communities. To reach an even higher standard, you could integrate a broader socioeconomic perspective or a specific real-world policy example regarding urban containment boundaries.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

Your essay demonstrates a clear, logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with the introduction of your position, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs supporting rural preservation, and concluding with a balanced counter-perspective. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'In addition', 'Another concern', and 'However' are managed naturally and guide the reader smoothly from one idea to the next without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately to separate distinct arguments.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

You display a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to the topic of housing and environmental conservation. You utilize less common lexical items effectively, such as 'environmental sustainability', 'uncontrolled development', 'abandoned industrial sites', and 'urban redevelopment'. Word choice and collocations are generally very precise, with only occasional minor slips. To push further into top-tier vocabulary, you could incorporate even more sophisticated idiomatic phrasing or nuanced academic collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

Your writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, featuring well-controlled conditional clauses ('if large amounts of farmland surrounding a city were replaced with housing...'), gerunds, and modal verbs. Punctuation is handled correctly throughout. To maintain this high standard, ensure that complex noun phrases remain fully concise to avoid any potential awkwardness in sentence rhythm.

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