Some people believe that old buildings should be protected by law. Others, however, think that they should be replaced by new buildings. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Sample Response
While there is a growing movement to protect old buildings, many believe that they should be replaced by modern structuresnew and modern structures. AlthoughWhile old buildings may have historical and cultural significance, I think that they often pose numerous safety risks and are no longer practical in today's society.
Firstly, many old buildings were constructed using outdated materials and techniques, making them vulnerable to collapse during natural disasters or even routine maintenance work. This not only puts the occupants of these buildingsinhabitants of the building at risk but also poses a threat to surrounding areas. Replacing old buildings with modern oneswith new and modern ones that are designed to meet current safety standardsbuilt to withstand the test of time can greatly improve the safety of the people who live and work in them.
Secondly, old buildings often require extensive and costly renovations to meetin order to meet modern safety standards and comply with building codes. This can put a strain on already limited financial resources and may not be feasible for many building owners. In addition, old buildings are often inefficient in terms of energy useusage, resulting in higher utility bills and a greater environmental impact. New buildings, on the other hand, can be designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable, reducing their impact on the environment and saving money in the long run.
Finally, while old buildings may have historical and cultural significance, it is important to recognize that society is constantly evolvingconstantly evolving and changing. It is essential to adapt to new technologies and ways of livingnew technologies and new ways of living in order to progress and thrive. Replacing old buildings with new and modern ones can improve residents' quality of lifeprovide a better quality of life for residents, attract new businesses and investment, and stimulate economic growth.
In conclusion, while old buildings may hold sentimental value, they pose numerous safety risks and are often inefficient and impractical in today's society. I believe that they should be replaced by new and contemporary structures that are safe and sustainable and that can supportsafe, sustainable, and can support the needs of our constantly evolving society.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response is fluent, logically organised, and especially strong in its sustained explanation of the safety, financial, and environmental case for replacement. Its main limitation is task coverage: the protection view is acknowledged only through brief references to historical and cultural value rather than genuinely discussed. The highest-priority improvement is to develop a distinct argument for legal protection before weighing it against the preferred position.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
A clear position is supported with well-developed reasons for replacement, but the opposing protection view receives almost no development.
Explain why supporters favour legal protection, with at least one developed reason, before evaluating that view against replacement.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress clearly through purposeful paragraphs, with effective referencing and well-controlled links between sentences.
Use a dedicated paragraph for the protection view so the organisational structure directly reflects both required sides of the discussion.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys the safety, financial, environmental, and social arguments naturally.
Reduce repeated phrases such as old buildings and new and modern ones by using precise contextual alternatives where clarity permits.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, with consistently clear and well-controlled sentences.
Refine the occasional heavily extended sentence by varying its structure for even greater concision and emphasis.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people believe that old buildings should be protected by law. Others, however, think that they should be replaced by new buildings. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.