Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? What is your viewpoint on this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Same question Compare all 2 answers See different approaches and band scores for this IELTS task.Sample Response
Some people think that old, historic buildings are no need for the city and they should be destroyed and replaced with modern ones. However, other people believe that historic buildings must be preserved in order to know and remember our past. For several reasons that I will mention bellow, I agree with those people who want to preserve old, historical buildings. First of all, by preserving historical buildings we pass our history to our future generations. I think that our children should know their history, learn from it and respect it. People need to know their traditions and customs, which are priceless and irreplaceable. Our history is our knowledge and power. In my opinion, we need to preserve and restore historical buildings. By destroying them we show our disrespect to our forefathers and their traditions. Second of all, by preserving historical buildings a city can attract many travellers. Welcoming tourists a city can get many benefits including money, which can be spent on preserving historical buildings as well as on improving roads and facilities. Every city has its own tradition and history which is reflected through the art and creation of the building mostly. Destroying those heritage means destroying the old value and history. Also, many tourists mean a lot of new business opportunities. Another important aspect of this is that businessmen will be willing to build new recreational centres, hotels, movie theatres, shopping centres to make a city more attractive to travellers. In addition to those practical benefits, many people will have the opportunity to get a job. All this is good for the economy of the city. To sum up, I believe that preserving old, historical buildings can bring only benefits to a city and all humankind.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct predicate form Original: are no need for the city Suggested revision: are not needed in the city Why it matters: The passive form is needed to express that the buildings are unnecessary.
- 2. Clarify the subject Original: in order to know and remember our past Suggested revision: so that people can know and remember our past Why it matters: The original purpose clause incorrectly makes the buildings the implied subject of knowing.
- 3. Correct and condense Original: For several reasons that I will mention bellow Suggested revision: For the following reasons Why it matters: This removes wordiness and corrects the misspelling of “below.”
- 4. Add introductory comma Original: by preserving historical buildings we Suggested revision: by preserving historical buildings, we Why it matters: A comma should follow this introductory phrase.
- 5. Use correct phrasal verb Original: pass our history to Suggested revision: pass our history on to Why it matters: “Pass on to” is the natural expression for transmitting knowledge between generations.
- 6. Add introductory comma Original: By destroying them we Suggested revision: By destroying them, we Why it matters: A comma should separate the introductory phrase from the main clause.
- 7. Correct the collocation Original: show our disrespect to Suggested revision: show disrespect for Why it matters: “Disrespect for” is the standard collocation in this context.
- 8. Use concise sequencing Original: Second of all Suggested revision: Second Why it matters: The shorter transition gives the next main point more direct progression.
- 9. Add clause comma Original: by preserving historical buildings a city Suggested revision: by preserving historical buildings, a city Why it matters: The introductory phrase must be followed by a comma.
- 10. Clarify the relationship Original: Welcoming tourists a city Suggested revision: By welcoming tourists, a city Why it matters: Adding “By” and a comma correctly links the action to the resulting benefit.
- 11. Use precise wording Original: get many benefits including money Suggested revision: gain many benefits, including revenue Why it matters: “Gain” and “revenue” are more precise choices for a city's economic benefits.
- 12. Correct the preposition Original: reflected through Suggested revision: reflected in Why it matters: Features are normally described as being reflected “in” something.
Suggested Rewrites
- are no need for the city are not needed in the city
- in order to know and remember our past so that people can know and remember our past
- For several reasons that I will mention bellow For the following reasons
- by preserving historical buildings we by preserving historical buildings, we
- pass our history to pass our history on to
- By destroying them we By destroying them, we
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a clear, consistently maintained position and develops two relevant benefits of preservation with logical progression and useful explanation. Its main limitation is the imprecision created by recurring grammatical and collocational errors, while some support remains general rather than grounded in specific examples. The highest priority is to develop each reason with a concrete illustration and then proofread agreement, articles, and word choice.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
A clear position is sustained and supported by two relevant, reasonably developed reasons.
Add a specific real-world or hypothetical example to deepen the support for each main reason.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, two main lines of argument, and a concise conclusion.
Use referencing and less formulaic transitions to make connections within and between ideas more natural.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of topic vocabulary, though several spelling and collocational errors reduce precision.
Check word forms and natural combinations, especially in phrases such as historic buildings being unnecessary and destroying heritage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates meaning clearly despite recurring article, agreement, and sentence-structure errors.
Proofread noun agreement, articles, and clause construction so complex sentences remain consistently accurate.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? What is your viewpoint on this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.