In many cities, there is little control on the design and construction of new houses, so people can build houses in their own styles rather than building them with the same style as the old houses in the local area. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Sample Response
In many cities around the world, people have little influence overin the design and construction of their houses. Many people believe it is better to allow people to freely choose the style and construction of their new homes rather than forcing everyone to follow the uniform style of the local area. In my opinion, diversity in housing styles cana diversity in housing styles can bring many more benefits than drawbacks to an area.
To begin with, cities in Vietnam, such as Saigon, have very few, or even no, regulations on local housing styles, which means that residents in these areas are free to decide on the architecture for their homeshome. Delete(1) The only disadvantage that may arise is the lack of uniformity of houses, which can be a unique feature in certain places. The houses in Hoi An, for instance, demonstrate a consistent style and therefore have made the city a popular tourist destination. If the homeownershouse owners in this city change their homes' styleschange the style and break this uniformity, the number of tourists visiting the area is likely to decrease.
However, the advantages brought about by a diversity in housing styles are more significantmore worthy of consideration. Firstly, buildings reflecting a variety of architectural designs can make a city more attractive and appealing to people of different cultures. For example, the buildings in the centre of Ho Chi Minh Citycity are designed in both European and Asian styles, which has eventually given the city a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with residents coming from many different countries. Delete(2) Secondly, freedom to choose housing styles allowsthe freedom of choice in housing styles can allow local people to be more creative, as they can design their homes in a unique way.
In conclusion, though potentially making some areas less attractive by losing a part of their character, a diversity in architectural styles should be widely encouraged, as it can beautify a city and allow residents to be more creative.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response maintains a clear position, organizes the comparison effectively, and uses varied, mostly precise language with strong grammatical control. The main limitation is that the creativity advantage receives only brief explanation, while a few expressions sound less natural than the surrounding prose. The highest-priority improvement is to extend that key advantage and connect it more explicitly to why the benefits outweigh the loss of local uniformity.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The question is directly answered with a consistent position, relevant discussion of both sides, and generally well-supported examples.
Develop the second advantage beyond a single assertion and weigh it explicitly against the identified disadvantage.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced clearly, paragraphs have distinct functions, and cohesive devices guide the comparison smoothly.
Remove the unexplained parenthetical numbers and vary the overt sequencing markers for an even more polished flow.
Lexical Resource
A broad, topic-appropriate vocabulary is used flexibly, with only occasional awkward collocations or imprecise phrasing.
Refine phrases such as a diversity in housing styles and more worthy of consideration into more idiomatic alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the great majority of sentences are error-free.
Check the few remaining preposition and noun-reference choices, such as influence in and residents designing their home.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In many cities, there is little control on the design and construction of new houses, so people can build houses in their own styles rather than building them with the same style as the old houses in the local area. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.