Band 7 IELTS Sample Essay: Housing Affordability
Reading time: 1 minutes
The Prompt
In many countries, owning a home rather than renting is seen as very important. Why might this be the case, and is this attitude a positive or negative development for society?
The Essay
In many societies, homeownership is regarded as a major life achievement, and people often prioritise buying property over renting. There are several reasons why this attitude has developed, and while it brings certain benefits, it also creates significant challenges for society as a whole.
One key reason why owning a home is so highly valued is the sense of financial security it provides. Unlike renting, where monthly payments go to a landlord without building any personal wealth, purchasing a property allows individuals to accumulate an asset over time. Many people also see their home as a form of investment, expecting its value to increase in the future. Beyond financial considerations, homeownership offers a sense of stability and belonging. People who own their homes tend to feel more settled in their communities and are less likely to face the uncertainty of being asked to leave by a landlord.
However, this widespread attitude can have both positive and negative consequences for society. On the positive side, higher rates of homeownership can lead to stronger communities, as residents are more committed to their local areas and more likely to participate in neighbourhood activities. On the other hand, when owning a home becomes a cultural expectation, it can create serious problems. Housing prices tend to rise sharply as demand increases, making it extremely difficult for younger generations and lower-income families to enter the property market. This can increase social inequality and leave a large portion of the population feeling financially excluded.
Overall, while the desire to own a home is understandable and brings some social benefits, the pressure it places on housing markets makes this a largely negative development for society.
Why This Scored Band 7
Task Achievement: 7.5
Your essay demonstrates strong task response by fully addressing both parts of the question. You clearly explain why homeownership is valued ('financial security,' 'sense of stability and belonging') and evaluate whether this is positive or negative, presenting a balanced view before reaching a clear position. Your ideas are well-extended with relevant support, as seen in 'purchasing a property allows individuals to accumulate an asset over time' and 'housing prices tend to rise sharply as demand increases.' This aligns with Band 7.5 descriptors: 'The prompt is appropriately and sufficiently addressed' with 'a clear and well-developed position.' The essay would reach Band 8 by adding more nuanced analysis, such as exploring regional variations or demographic impacts in greater depth.
Coherence and Cohesion: 8
Your essay demonstrates excellent coherence with clear logical progression throughout. Information flows naturally from reasons for homeownership to its societal impacts. You use sophisticated cohesive devices effectively: 'Beyond financial considerations' signals topic shift, 'On the other hand' introduces contrast, and 'Overall' signals conclusion. Paragraphing is skilfully managed with distinct introduction, two well-developed body paragraphs, and conclusion. This matches Band 8 descriptors: 'The message can be followed with ease' and 'cohesion is well managed.' Minor improvement toward Band 8.5 would involve even more varied referencing techniques, such as using 'this phenomenon' or 'such attitudes' to avoid slight repetition of 'homeownership.'
Lexical Resource: 8
Your vocabulary demonstrates Band 8 proficiency with 'accumulate an asset,' 'financial security,' 'cultural expectation,' and 'financially excluded' showing sophisticated, precise word choice. You use less common lexical items naturally: 'prioritise,' 'uncertainty,' 'committed to their local areas.' Collocations are strong: 'sense of stability,' 'housing prices tend to rise,' 'social inequality.' This aligns with Band 8: 'A wide resource is fluently and flexibly used to convey precise meanings.' To reach Band 8.5, incorporate more idiomatic or sophisticated expressions, such as replacing 'serious problems' with 'profound socioeconomic challenges' or 'asked to leave by a landlord' with 'face eviction.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7.5
Your essay uses a wide range of grammatical structures with strong accuracy. Complex sentences are well-controlled: 'Unlike renting, where monthly payments go to a landlord without building any personal wealth, purchasing a property allows individuals to accumulate an asset over time.' You demonstrate flexibility with relative clauses, conditional structures, and subordination. Most sentences are error-free, matching Band 7.5 descriptors. Minor issues include 'when owning a home becomes a cultural expectation' (slightly awkward phrasing) and occasional opportunities for more sophisticated structures. To reach Band 8, ensure all complex structures flow with complete naturalness and incorporate more varied sentence openings beyond standard subject-verb patterns.
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