In many major cities of the world, you will find large public buildings, both new and old. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such buildings. How important is it for a country to construct impressive public buildings when houses are want is really required?
Sample Response
A public building is a building that belongs in some way to the state. The number of public buildings in any town or village will depend on the size of that community and its needs. For example, you will usually find a town hall of some sort, a school and a place of worship at the least. In larger communities there will be a police station, law courts, a library and maybe a theatre funded by the state. The desire to build impressive buildings is not new. The ancient cities of the Middle East and South America were designed with large public buildings to impress visitors and enemies and give a sense of pride. In modern times, outstanding public buildings still create a great sense of local and national pride. They are what gives a city its character and they form a social centre, a place where people like to meet. However, some people argue that governments have constructed unnecessary, and sometimes ugly, buildings simply to make themselves feel important. I tend to feel that such buildings may be a waste of public money but I am not sure we can claim that they prevent houses from being built, because these governments have often ensured that adequate housing was also available. Houses and public buildings can exist side by side. The answer lies in finding the right balance. We want to feel pride in our town, but we also want our citizens to have comfortable homes. It is hard to please everyone.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Define more precisely Original: belongs in some way to the state Suggested revision: is owned or operated by the state Why it matters: This wording gives the opening definition a clearer and more concrete meaning.
- 2. Fix the idiom Original: at the least Suggested revision: at least Why it matters: At least is the standard expression for a minimum.
- 3. Add an introductory comma Original: In larger communities there will be Suggested revision: In larger communities, there will be Why it matters: A comma helps separate the introductory phrase from the main clause.
- 4. Use formal wording Original: maybe Suggested revision: perhaps Why it matters: Perhaps is slightly more appropriate for a formal academic response.
- 5. Use concise phrasing Original: is not new Suggested revision: has a long history Why it matters: This expresses the historical continuity more directly.
- 6. Clarify the relationship Original: with Suggested revision: around Why it matters: Designed around better conveys that the buildings were central to the city plan.
- 7. Use precise wording Original: give a sense of pride Suggested revision: foster civic pride Why it matters: This concise collocation identifies the kind of pride associated with public buildings.
- 8. Fix subject agreement Original: gives Suggested revision: give Why it matters: The plural subject they requires the plural verb form give.
- 9. Keep number consistent Original: form a social centre, a place Suggested revision: serve as social centres, places Why it matters: The plural complement and appositive now agree with the plural subject they.
- 10. Use formal precision Original: simply to make themselves feel important Suggested revision: primarily to enhance their own prestige Why it matters: The revision expresses the criticism in more precise academic language.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: I tend to feel that such buildings may be a waste of public money but I am not sure we can claim that they prevent houses from being built, because these governments have often ensured that adequate housing was also available. Suggested revision: Although such buildings may waste public money, they do not necessarily prevent houses from being built, since governments can also provide adequate housing. Why it matters: The revision states the concession and main claim more directly while removing the unclear reference to these governments.
- 12. Create clear paragraphs Suggested revision: Divide this single block into separate paragraphs for background, benefits, drawbacks, and the final balance. Why it matters: Distinct paragraphs would make the progression between the essay’s main functions much easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- belongs in some way to the state is owned or operated by the state
- at the least at least
- In larger communities there will be In larger communities, there will be
- maybe perhaps
- is not new has a long history
- with around
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response's strongest feature is its clear, balanced position that civic landmarks can foster pride and social life while housing needs must still be met. The main limitation is underdevelopment: considerable space defines public buildings, while the disadvantages and housing trade-off receive only brief assertions; the priority is to replace introductory examples with specific explanation of costs, opportunity costs, and conditions for balancing the two needs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses the benefits, drawbacks, and housing question with a clear balanced view, though support for the latter points is brief.
Develop the financial disadvantage and housing opportunity cost with a specific explanation or example.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument moves clearly from background to benefits, drawbacks, and a final judgment, but its single dense paragraph obscures those stages.
Divide the response into an introduction, separate discussion paragraphs, and a concise conclusion.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with appropriate language for civic functions, public spending, and community pride.
Reduce repetition of 'public buildings' by using accurate alternatives only where the reference remains unambiguous.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A useful range of simple and complex sentences is largely accurate, with only occasional agreement and punctuation slips.
Proofread subject-verb agreement in relative constructions and remove unnecessary commas around essential modifiers.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In many major cities of the world, you will find large public buildings, both new and old. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such buildings. How important is it for a country to construct impressive public buildings when houses are want is really required?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.