In many places, new homes are needed, but the only place 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 while others believe we should build houses wherever possible. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
In many regions, the demand for housing is rising rapidly, and rural areas are increasingly being considered for development. This has led to a debate between those who wish to protect the countryside and those who argue for building homes wherever space is available.
One argument for not building in the countryside is the need to preserve natural habitats as rural areas are often home to endangered wildlife species. For instance, some parts of the English countryside, such as the Norfolk Broads, support rare birds and plant species that could be lost if urbanisation spreads. Another argument is the cultural and heritage value. Areas like the Cotswolds in England or Provence in France are known for their historic charm. Expanding housing developments could damage the identity and visual appeal of these regions.
Despite this, there remain strong arguments for building homes wherever necessary. The lack of housing is at crisis point in many places, and housing in capital cities is just too expensive for many. So expanding into rural zones is really the only option. It could also lead to economic opportunities for rural areas if development can bring jobs, infrastructure, and investment. For example, new housing in Cambridgeshire villages in the UK has led to better transport links and more local shops and schools.
Overall, governments need a balanced approach, whereby they designate specific zones for development while protecting areas of high ecological or cultural importance. Homes can also be built using sustainable materials with minimal environmental impact can reduce harm, such as to“Passivhaus” standards. Through such careful planning, new housing can be built while still protecting natural environments.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Clarify causal link Original: as Suggested revision: because Why it matters: Because states the reason for preserving habitats more directly here.
- 2. Complete the idea Original: the cultural and heritage value Suggested revision: the need to protect their cultural and heritage value Why it matters: The revision makes the second argument parallel to the need identified earlier.
- 3. Use natural phrasing Original: developments Suggested revision: development Why it matters: Housing development is more natural as an uncountable term for the general activity.
- 4. Choose precise noun Original: identity Suggested revision: character Why it matters: Character more precisely describes the distinctive qualities of a region.
- 5. Fix the expression Original: The lack of housing is at crisis point Suggested revision: The housing shortage has reached a crisis point Why it matters: The revised clause uses the required article and a more natural verb-noun combination.
- 6. Use formal wording Original: housing in capital cities is just too expensive for many Suggested revision: homes in capital cities are unaffordable for many people Why it matters: The revision is more precise and appropriately formal.
- 7. Use conventional term Original: zones Suggested revision: areas Why it matters: Rural areas is the more natural term in this context.
- 8. Fix the preposition Original: for Suggested revision: in Why it matters: Opportunities in an area is the natural collocation when describing their location.
- 9. Clarify the mechanism Original: if development can bring Suggested revision: by bringing Why it matters: By bringing expresses how development could create those opportunities without the awkward double modal.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: Homes can also be built using sustainable materials with minimal environmental impact can reduce harm, such as to“Passivhaus” standards. Suggested revision: Homes can also be built using sustainable materials to reduce environmental harm, for example by meeting Passivhaus standards. Why it matters: The original combines two verb structures incorrectly and uses an unclear example phrase.
Suggested Rewrites
- as because
- the cultural and heritage value the need to protect their cultural and heritage value
- developments development
- identity character
- The lack of housing is at crisis point The housing shortage has reached a crisis point
- housing in capital cities is just too expensive for many homes in capital cities are unaffordable for many people
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response discusses both positions directly, maintains a clear balanced opinion, and supports its reasoning with relevant ecological, cultural, and economic examples. Its main limitation is a malformed sentence in the conclusion, which briefly weakens otherwise strong control; the highest-priority improvement is to proofread complex sentences so that each has one complete, accurately connected grammatical structure.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are fully addressed through relevant, well-developed reasons and a clear balanced position.
Deepen the proposed compromise by explaining how governments could decide which rural areas are suitable for development.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through clearly focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used naturally and effectively.
Make the final recommendation flow even more smoothly by separating the planning and sustainable-building measures into distinct sentences.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys ecological, cultural, housing, and economic ideas with strong flexibility.
Refine a few expressions around sustainable construction so the final recommendation is as precise as the earlier discussion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of complex structures is handled accurately, apart from a conspicuous sentence-construction error near the end.
Rewrite the sentence beginning with 'Homes can also be built' to remove the competing verb phrases and clarify the Passivhaus example.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In many places, new homes are needed, but the only place 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 while others believe we should build houses wherever possible. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Your response
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