It is important that we maintain and protect the beautiful buildings of the past, even if it is expensive for countries to do so. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
The beauty of historical architecture is not just a testament to the skill and artistry of our ancestors, but it also provides a link to our cultural heritage. While it may be expensive to maintain and preserve these buildings, it is absolutely essential that we do so. I strongly agree with the statement that it is necessary to preserve and protect the attractive structures of the past.
Firstly, historical buildings represent a valuable connection to our cultural heritage. These structures are often integral to the identity of a city or region, and can provide insight into the history, culture, and traditions of a particular place. In some cases, they may be the only tangible link to a particular period of history, making them all the more important to preserve.
Moreover, historical buildings often have significant aesthetic and architectural value. They represent the epitome of design and craftsmanship of the era in which they were built, and are irreplaceable in their beauty and elegance. Once lost, it is impossible to recreate the same level of artistry and skill that went into their creation. Preserving these buildings, therefore, is not just a matter of maintaining a connection to our cultural past, but it is also an investment in the future.
Finally, historical buildings can also have significant economic value. They often become tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world who appreciate their historical and architectural significance. This can provide a significant boost to the local economy, creating jobs and generating revenue for local businesses. In addition, preserving historical buildings can also be a way to regenerate or revitalize urban areas, bringing new life to previously neglected parts of a city.
In conclusion, maintaining and protecting historical buildings is essential to preserving our cultural heritage, promoting aesthetic and architectural values, and boosting local economies. While the cost of preserving these buildings can be high, the benefits are far greater. It is our duty to ensure that these irreplaceable treasures are passed on to future generations.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Complete correlative pair Original: just Suggested revision: only Why it matters: Not only correctly pairs with the later but also construction.
- 2. Avoid redundant emphasis Original: absolutely essential Suggested revision: essential Why it matters: Essential already expresses absolute necessity, so the intensifier is unnecessary.
- 3. Use consistent terminology Original: preserve and protect the attractive structures Suggested revision: preserve the historic buildings Why it matters: The revision removes redundant verbs and uses the essay's clearer central term.
- 4. Remove internal comma Original: region, and can provide Suggested revision: region and can provide Why it matters: The two verbs share the same subject, so no comma is needed before and.
- 5. Clarify the relationship Original: the epitome of design and craftsmanship of the era Suggested revision: the finest examples of their era's design and craftsmanship Why it matters: The possessive clearly links the design and craftsmanship to the relevant era.
- 6. Reduce wordiness Original: same level of artistry and skill that went into their creation Suggested revision: same artistry and skill involved in their creation Why it matters: The revision preserves the meaning in a more concise form.
- 7. Complete correlative pair Original: just Suggested revision: only Why it matters: Not only correctly matches the following but also phrase.
- 8. Remove redundant linker Original: can also have significant economic value Suggested revision: can have significant economic value Why it matters: Finally already marks the additional point, making also redundant here.
- 9. Use precise verb Original: often become tourist attractions Suggested revision: often serve as tourist attractions Why it matters: Serve as describes the buildings' established function more precisely.
- 10. Use a direct verb Original: provide a significant boost to the local economy Suggested revision: significantly boost the local economy Why it matters: The direct verb makes the economic effect more concise.
- 11. Remove redundancy Original: can also be a way to regenerate or revitalize Suggested revision: can help revitalise Why it matters: The shorter phrase removes two near-synonymous verbs without changing the claim.
- 12. Use parallel meaning Original: promoting aesthetic and architectural values Suggested revision: preserving aesthetic and architectural value Why it matters: Preserving value aligns this item with the protection benefits summarised in the sentence.
Suggested Rewrites
- just only
- absolutely essential essential
- preserve and protect the attractive structures preserve the historic buildings
- region, and can provide region and can provide
- the epitome of design and craftsmanship of the era the finest examples of their era's design and craftsmanship
- same level of artistry and skill that went into their creation same artistry and skill involved in their creation
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response gives a direct, fully developed position and supports it through distinct cultural, architectural and economic arguments. Its strongest feature is the clear progression from heritage value to practical benefits, expressed with precise vocabulary and consistently controlled sentences; the main limitation is minor repetition of key terms and claims. The highest priority is to vary repeated wording and add one concrete illustration to make an already strong argument more distinctive.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is explicit throughout, the expense issue is acknowledged, and three relevant reasons are thoroughly explained.
Add a specific example of successful preservation or urban regeneration to make the economic argument even more concrete.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced coherently in purposeful paragraphs, and cohesive devices guide the reader naturally through the argument.
Reduce repeated paragraph openings and references to historical buildings by using more varied but equally clear transitions and referencing.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise and appropriate, with flexible use of language related to heritage, architecture, tourism and regeneration.
Vary recurring terms such as historical buildings, significant and preserve while maintaining the essay's precise formal register.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and fluently, with only minor lapses that do not affect communication.
Refine occasional coordination and punctuation choices in long sentences to make the already controlled syntax still more economical.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Writing Task 2
It is important that we maintain and protect the beautiful buildings of the past, even if it is expensive for countries to do so. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.