Modern buildings change the character and appearance of towns and cities. The government should insist that new buildings be built in traditional styles to protect cultural identity. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
With the rapid development of architectural advancements and the dramatic increase in modernization, many countries have allowed constructing more and more modern buildings that have created significant changes in character and appearance of the living areas. In my opinion, this is unlikely to deteriorate culture and the suggestion that new high-rise buildings should follow the traditional styles in order to maintain culture identity is not persuasive.
There is no denying the fact that buildings erected in modern and unique designs and equipped with more advanced amenities will partly make a professional and active look for a city or town, which both facilitates higher living standards of the locals and draws attention to wealthy tourists or potential investors who are seeking for lucrative markets to develop their business. When the government implement the open policies for its cities and towns to construct modern buildings, many companies are more likely to rent more rooms, offices or apartments so as to place their branches, stores or even head offices. This will promisingly accelerate the local economy.
With the intention to protect cultural identity, the government can take consideration into more practical ways rather than insist the traditional styles for new buildings. Regular repairs or refurbishment for historical and old buildings, for instance, may be a good idea to keep the country's cultural values alive longer. It is those sites that reflect more actual traditions of towns and cities than new ones built in the so-called traditional styles which people cannot ensure if they have been inherited properly from the previous to present builder generation.
In conclusion, modern buildings are obvious results of the constant progress in construction techniques and the economic development of residential regions. The government should encourage building more high-rise buildings to satisfy its inhabitants' higher demands on hi-tech facilities as well as invest effectively in repairing old buildings to conserve traditional values.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Avoid redundant development wording Original: architectural advancements Suggested revision: architecture Why it matters: Development of architecture conveys the idea without pairing two overlapping progress terms.
- 2. Use natural change wording Original: dramatic increase in modernization Suggested revision: rapid pace of modernisation Why it matters: Modernisation has a pace rather than a countable increase in this context.
- 3. Use the noun construction Original: allowed constructing Suggested revision: allowed the construction of Why it matters: Allow requires an object before an infinitive or a noun phrase such as the construction of.
- 4. Use formal quantity wording Original: more and more modern buildings Suggested revision: an increasing number of modern buildings Why it matters: An increasing number of is more precise and formal than more and more.
- 5. Clarify the affected places Original: changes in character and appearance of the living areas Suggested revision: changes to the character and appearance of residential areas Why it matters: The revision uses the correct preposition and a natural term for inhabited urban areas.
- 6. Use the correct verb Original: deteriorate culture Suggested revision: damage cultural identity Why it matters: Deteriorate is normally intransitive here, whereas damage clearly expresses the claimed effect.
- 7. Remove the unnecessary article Original: should follow the traditional styles Suggested revision: should follow traditional styles Why it matters: The sentence refers to traditional styles generally rather than a previously specified set.
- 8. Use the adjective form Original: culture Suggested revision: cultural Why it matters: Cultural is the adjective needed to modify identity.
- 9. Remove the empty opener Original: There is no denying the fact that Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The phrase adds no meaning and delays the paragraph's substantive claim.
- 10. Use the design preposition Original: in modern and unique designs Suggested revision: with modern and distinctive designs Why it matters: Buildings are erected with particular designs, and distinctive is more precise than unique here.
- 11. Use a natural appearance phrase Original: will partly make a professional and active look Suggested revision: can create a modern and dynamic appearance Why it matters: Create an appearance is the natural collocation for describing a city's visual character.
- 12. Use the beneficiary preposition Original: higher living standards of the locals Suggested revision: higher living standards for residents Why it matters: For identifies the people who benefit from the higher living standards.
Suggested Rewrites
- architectural advancements architecture
- dramatic increase in modernization rapid pace of modernisation
- allowed constructing allowed the construction of
- more and more modern buildings an increasing number of modern buildings
- changes in character and appearance of the living areas changes to the character and appearance of residential areas
- deteriorate culture damage cultural identity
Why this response received Band 7.0
The essay gives a clear, consistent rejection of compulsory traditional design and supports it with economic benefits and a practical alternative for preserving heritage. Its main limitation is expression: ambitious ideas are often conveyed through unnatural collocations and overextended sentences, especially in the discussion of investment and authentic traditions. Prioritise simplifying those sentences and using standard architectural and economic vocabulary so the strong argument is communicated more precisely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout and both the case for modern construction and the alternative of conserving historic buildings are relevantly developed.
Strengthen the response with one concrete example showing how a city can combine modern development with protection of genuine heritage sites.
Coherence and Cohesion
The four-paragraph structure and progression are logical, although several long sentences contain too many linked claims and weaken local clarity.
Split the economic-benefits and heritage arguments into shorter claim, explanation, and example sequences.
Lexical Resource
The essay shows a good range of architectural and economic vocabulary, but frequent unnatural collocations reduce precision and fluency.
Use idiomatic phrases such as permit modern construction, harm cultural identity, attract investors, and consider practical alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex structures is attempted, but recurring errors in verb patterns, agreement, articles, and prepositions limit grammatical control.
Correct patterns such as allow buildings to be constructed, the government implements policies, and insist on traditional styles.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Modern buildings change the character and appearance of towns and cities. The government should insist that new buildings be built in traditional styles to protect cultural identity. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.