Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-10

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 an increasing number of cities today, the rising population growth has made the demand for modern buildings much needed. Therefore, the available space for construction is at rural areas. While some argue that villages should be left untouched due to agricultural production, I believe that, the most effective method is to build newer homes in rural areas and reduce congestion in urban cities.

Granted, it is undeniable that building newer houses in rural areas can lead to governments converting suitable farm lands to construction sites. However, these countrysides has covers larger surface area that can accomodate the growing population and also have sufficient farmlands. The skyrocketing population increase in major urban cities cause major environmental problems such as traffic congestion and inadequate housing facilities. Governments can allocate lands in countrysides to mitigate these issues. Therefore, the merits of building newer homes in villages far outweigh the drawbacks.

Furthermore, global urbanization has caused housing deficiency. This can lead to authorities allocating green areas for developers to build. Green zones can be used for leisure activities and also a way to control the flow of water. This illustration can be seen in Abuja, Nigeria, where the minister in charge has given town developers several green areas to build additional houses. Consequently, it has resulted in flooding and lack of recreational facilities. For this reason, newer apartments are needed in remote areas so to combat this problem.

In summary, although building new houses in villages can affect farmers in some ways, I am of the opinion that it is necessary in reducing the negative effect of urban migration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you support building homes in rural areas to ease pressure on cities, and you acknowledge the cost to farmland. The Abuja example also helps illustrate how building on green spaces can create problems. This addresses the task and gives relevant reasons, with some support already present. However, the argument is not developed evenly: the first body paragraph asserts that the countryside has enough land and farmland without explaining how housing and agricultural needs could both be protected. The second paragraph focuses more on the consequences of building on urban green areas than on why countryside development is preferable. To strengthen the response, explain the conditions under which rural construction would be responsible and connect each example more directly to your opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to two supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Granted,” “Furthermore,” and “For this reason” help signal the argument, and the overall progression is understandable. Some connections, however, are not fully clear or feel mechanical. In the second body paragraph, the shift from urban green zones and flooding to the need for apartments in remote areas needs a more explicit explanation. The conclusion also repeats the position without drawing together the two main reasons. Use clearer topic sentences and make the relationship between each example and your claim explicit; vary transitions so that they express the precise logical link rather than simply marking a new point.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “agricultural production,” “traffic congestion,” “housing deficiency,” and “recreational facilities.” These choices make the subject clear, and attempts at more formal phrasing show some flexibility. At times, however, word choice and collocation are inaccurate or unnatural, as in “rising population growth,” “the demand for modern buildings much needed,” and “reduce congestion in urban cities.” There are also spelling errors, including “accomodate,” which should be corrected. Aim for more precise, natural combinations and avoid unnecessary repetition of “newer homes” and “build.” For example, “population growth is increasing demand for housing” is clearer and more idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession clause beginning “While some argue…” and a conditional-style explanation of the effects of urban growth. Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “these countrysides has covers” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and verb construction; “the population increase … cause” also needs a singular verb. The phrase “I believe that, the most effective method” has misplaced punctuation, while “so to combat this problem” uses an awkward grammatical pattern. Review agreement, verb forms, and clause punctuation, then proofread each sentence for a complete and correctly formed structure. More consistent accuracy would make your complex sentences easier to follow.

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

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