Some people like to own the place where they live, but other people like to rent where they live. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
The debate over whether it is better to own or rent the property in which one lives is one that has strong supporters on each side. There are persuasive arguments for both points of view.
One of the main advantages of renting a property is flexibility. Usually, a tenant only has to give a month’s notice before changing where he or she lives. If a property is owned and a change is needed, the property must be put onto the market and it is frequently a long and stressful process to get a sale completed. Sometimes, the wrong time of year or a bad market can mean that a sale is not possible. Another advantage of renting is that a large amount of a family’s capital is not tied up in the property. Property can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and often a lot more. If one rents, this money can be spent on other things to help improve the family’s quality of life. If the property is on a mortgage, then the deposit, also often very large, is tied up in the property and the pressure of having to make substantial payments every month can cause a lot of stress.
Owning a property does have various advantages, though. Even though people usually have to service a mortgage every month with payments, this money is then built up with the property. With renting, the money is lost to the landlord, but at the end of the term of the mortgage, the whole property is owned by the family. This makes the process of living in a property a type of investment. In addition, the property’s value often goes up after time, frequently creating a substantial profit. Owning the property where one lives can also create a sense of well-being and self-actualisation.
The decision to whether one rents or owns the property in which one lives really boils down to individual preference. My opinion is that it is much more preferable to own a property, mainly because it creates a valuable asset for the family.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise verb Original: changing where he or she lives Suggested revision: moving Why it matters: ‘Moving’ expresses the change of residence more directly.
- 2. Use formal wording Original: the wrong time of year Suggested revision: an unfavourable time of year Why it matters: ‘Unfavourable’ states the market timing problem more precisely.
- 3. Clarify singular reference Original: Property can cost Suggested revision: A property can cost Why it matters: The article makes the reference to an individual home consistent with the surrounding discussion.
- 4. Fix mortgage phrase Original: on a mortgage Suggested revision: financed with a mortgage Why it matters: A property is financed with a mortgage rather than being ‘on’ one.
- 5. Use clear transition Original: With Suggested revision: When Why it matters: ‘When renting’ introduces the comparison with ownership more naturally.
- 6. Condense noun phrase Original: the end of the term of the mortgage Suggested revision: the end of the mortgage term Why it matters: The shorter noun phrase conveys the same meaning more fluently.
- 7. Fix time collocation Original: goes up after time Suggested revision: increases over time Why it matters: ‘Increases over time’ is the standard expression for gradual appreciation.
- 8. Remove wrong preposition Original: The decision to whether Suggested revision: The decision whether Why it matters: ‘Whether’ follows ‘decision’ directly in this construction.
- 9. Avoid double comparison Original: much more preferable Suggested revision: far preferable Why it matters: ‘Preferable’ is already comparative, so ‘more’ is redundant.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: Even though people usually have to service a mortgage every month with payments, this money is then built up with the property. Suggested revision: Although homeowners must make monthly mortgage payments, these payments gradually build equity in the property. Why it matters: The rewrite replaces the unclear phrase ‘built up with the property’ with the intended financial meaning.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: This makes the process of living in a property a type of investment. Suggested revision: This means that owning a home can function as an investment. Why it matters: The rewrite identifies ownership, rather than the act of living in a property, as the investment.
Suggested Rewrites
- changing where he or she lives moving
- the wrong time of year an unfavourable time of year
- Property can cost A property can cost
- on a mortgage financed with a mortgage
- With When
- the end of the term of the mortgage the end of the mortgage term
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response is highly effective in explaining both preferences through detailed, logically connected financial and practical reasoning, and it ends with an unambiguous personal view. Its main limitation is a small amount of repetition and occasional imprecise phrasing in otherwise fluent prose. The highest-priority refinement is to state the personal position earlier and streamline repeated mortgage-related wording so the argument is even more controlled and concise.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are fully explored with well-developed reasons, and the writer's own opinion is clear and relevant.
Signal the preferred view in the introduction so the position is explicit from the outset as well as in the conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is skilfully organised, with clear paragraph purposes and smooth logical progression throughout.
Condense repeated discussion of mortgage payments and tied-up capital to make the progression even more economical.
Lexical Resource
A broad and precise vocabulary conveys practical and financial ideas effectively, with only rare awkward combinations.
Replace phrases such as after time and much more preferable with more idiomatic and exact alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide variety of complex structures is used with strong control and only isolated minor errors.
Correct the few awkward constructions, especially the decision to whether, while preserving the existing sentence variety.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people like to own the place where they live, but other people like to rent where they live. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.