When designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
People have different views regarding the importance of a building’s function compared with its exterior appearancein comparison to its exterior appearance. I agreeIn my opinion, I agree with the idea that a building’sconstruction’s purpose should be more highly valued than itsthe appearance for a number of reasons.
On the one hand, it cannot be denied that a magnificent looking structure can bring substantial benefitsa wide range of benefits that should be taken into consideration. Firstly, it can significantly increaseremarkably raise the value of a building, especially a commercial building or shopping centera commercial or shopping center, as it looks more attractive, polished and prestigiousprofessional and high-class. The more customers the building attractsThe more customers are attracted to the building, the more profit it can potentially generate, greatly benefiting the building’s ownerswhich can benefit the building’s owners enormously. Secondly, a building with an aesthetic design can greatly enhance the appearancecontribute a lot to the appearance of a city, and may make itmay make it become one of the most distinctive landmarksone of the most distinguishing places on the map. Many cities todayA lot of cities nowadays which are well-known for their architectural beauty have become popular destinations for tourists.
On the other hand, the purpose of a building ispurpose of a building, in my opinion, is the key consideration when designing it. There are a variety of building typesa variety of different building types such as office buildings, commercial buildings, shopping centers, hospitals and schools. Each one of these has its own purpose and a particular interior design to serve that purposeserve those purposes. Therefore, only by focusing on the functionality of the buildingthe functionality of a design first, can we make the best usebring out the best use of a construction. In addition, people chooseuse a particular place because of what it offers inside, not merely because of what it looks like on the outside. For example, if a company intends to erect a new office building, itthey will tend to choose the design based on the inner working spaces to improve staff and business operationsenhance the operation of the staff and the enterprise.
In conclusion, while the exterior of a building is an important factor, I believe its function should receive greater attention.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response is strongest in its clear position and orderly comparison of aesthetic appeal with practical function, supported by a relevant office-building example. Its main limitation is that several claims remain broad and are expressed through awkward collocations, which weakens precision; the highest-priority improvement is to develop the functional argument with more specific consequences while choosing more natural wording throughout.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses the question fully, maintains a clear preference for function, and develops both sides with relevant reasons.
Explain the practical consequences of function-led design in greater depth rather than relying mainly on general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay has clear paragraphing and logical progression, although some sequencing language is predictable and mechanical.
Use less formulaic transitions and strengthen the internal links between each claim, explanation, and example.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is sufficiently varied for the topic, but recurring awkward collocations reduce precision and naturalness.
Replace expressions such as magnificent looking, distinguishing places, and bring out the best use with idiomatic alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex sentences with generally strong control, despite occasional agreement, punctuation, and construction problems.
Check number agreement and clause construction carefully, especially in sentences involving inversion, relative clauses, and pronoun reference.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
When designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.