Some people think the newly built houses should be the same as the old housing styles in local areas. Others argue that local authorities should allow people to build houses in their own style. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Response
Many feel it is crucial that home owners possess the freedom to design their own property, while others believe architectural design should be restrictedwhile others feel there should be restrictions. In my opinion, the value of preserving the characteridentity of a neighborhood outweighs the rights of property owners.
Those in favor of unfettered choice argue this can inspire and motivate. When an owner has the ability to express an individual vision, they are naturally more invested in improvingdeveloping their property. Numerous examples of this can be foundExamples of this abound in newer cities such as Shenzhen in mainland China. There is little history to disturb and therefore architects are encouraged to pursue a vision in concert with owners that is aesthetically pleasing and novel. The result is modern homes and offices that push the boundaries of design and in the aggregate contribute an energy and vitality that can enliven, or even revitalize in some cases, an urban area.
However, in the majority of communities,in the majority of communities it is more important to prioritize cultural preservation. This is because the unique character of many cities and neighborhoods is currentlytoday under threat from the irreversible effects of globalization. A clear example isA standout instance of this would be Hanoi's Old Quarter in Vietnamthe old quarter in Hanoi in Vietnam. The government has imposed strict regulations in recent years as a growing middle class has attempted to modernize their living conditions. To preserve the historic character of the city, many new homes must meet certain guidelines, including having classic wooden shutters, employing older building materials and not demolishing noteworthy homes. These efforts in Hanoi and similar cities preserve distinctive aspectsconserve essential and unique aspects of history and culture.
In conclusion, despite endeavors to allow for freedom of expression in design, I believe that it is generally more valuable to preserve historically relevant design principles. Governments must naturally balance this with a desire to modernize.
Why this response received Band 9.0
The essay offers a clear, nuanced position and develops both views through specific, persuasive examples, with especially strong control of vocabulary and complex syntax. The main limitation is that the case for unrestricted design relies heavily on the exceptional context of a newer city, making that argument slightly less generalisable. The highest-priority improvement is to compare the conditions under which each policy would be most appropriate more explicitly.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are fully addressed, and the writer's preference for cultural preservation is consistently and convincingly developed.
Strengthen the comparison by stating more directly how local historical context determines which approach should prevail.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument progresses seamlessly from the opposing view to the preferred position, with cohesive devices used unobtrusively.
Tighten the first body paragraph's final sentence slightly so its central consequence remains maximally prominent.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is exceptionally precise, flexible, and natural across abstract argument, architecture, and cultural preservation.
Maintain this precision while favouring the most concise phrasing where several sophisticated expressions cluster together.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A full range of complex structures is used with excellent control, clarity, and virtually error-free punctuation.
Continue varying sentence rhythm while preserving the same consistently accurate control of embedded clauses and modification.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people think the newly built houses should be the same as the old housing styles in local areas. Others argue that local authorities should allow people to build houses in their own style. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.