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IELTSbiz
All Task 2 topics
2 graded answers · band 5.5–7.5

More and more people in the city live in homes with small spaces or no outdoor areas. Do you think it is a negative or positive development?

2 IELTSbiz learners have answered this Task 2 question and had it marked on the four official criteria; bands ranged from 5.5 to 7.5, with a median of Band 6.5. Compare the answers below to see exactly what the higher bands did differently.

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These are learner answers, not model answers — including the ones that scored well. Read them for what the criteria reward and punish, not as text to copy. A memorised essay attached to a slightly different question scores worse than an honest attempt, and examiners recognise recited material quickly.

  • Task Response7
  • Lexical Resource7
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy8
  • Coherence & Cohesion7

In recent years, more and more people have been living in homes with limited space or no outdoor areas. I believe this is a negative development because it can have harmful effects on people's physical and mental health and reduce their privacy. On the one hand, living in small homes without outdoor areas can negatively affect people's physical and mental health. This is because limited living space makes it difficult for residents to carry out daily activities comfortably, which may increase their stress levels. In addition, people may find it harder to exercise at home or get some fresh air if they do not have enough space. For example, someone who enjoys exercising may find it difficult to work out at home because there is not enough room. As a result, they may become less physically active, which could negatively affect their overall well-being. On the other hand, family members who live together in small homes may have less privacy. This is because limited space may force them to share bedrooms and other living areas, leaving them with little room for private activities. For instance, children who share a bedroom with their siblings may struggle to find a quiet place to study or relax. Consequently, a lack of personal space may cause tension between family members and reduce their overall satisfaction with life. In conclusion, I believe that living in small homes without outdoor areas is a negative development, as it can harm people's physical and mental health and reduce their privacy.

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  • Task Response6
  • Lexical Resource5
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy5
  • Coherence & Cohesion6

In this day and age, habitation has become an increasingly public concern. While some people argue that living in home with limited spaces and areas in plein air can bring several benefits for people’s lives , others contend that this phenomenon have negative effect on people’s health and privacy. From where I stand, I firmly believe that staying in a small space without outdoor areas is a negative development. This essay will examine the main reasons associated with this situation and propose appropriate solutions. On the one hand, living in narrow homes without outdoor areas can damage individual’s mental and physical health. This is because small spaces limit people’s daily routine and create a feeling of stress. It is difficult for individuals to do exercises and have a breath of fresh air because of a loss of air circulation and lack of outdoor spaces which can lead to some health problems such as heart disease. For example, a person who is keen on sports activities do not have access to exercise at home because there is no more spaces for him. As a result, people could have mental stress and physical problems. On the other hand, family members who live together in small spaces may lose their privacy. It means that a narrow space make all habitants live physically closer. Some of people have to share spaces with their relatives which could lead to lose privacy for themselves. For instance, some members of family need to live in a same room because of lack of spaces at their home. Consequently, the quality of people’s lives may be weakened and they could lose the feeling of satisfaction to societal development. In conclusion, it is clear that living a narrow spaces can lead to plenty of negative influences on people’s mental and physical health and their privacy. It is recommend that governments should take action to explore more spaces in order to construct new residential areas with large space and individuals can also enhance their sports activities and keep positive mood which could avoid health problems.

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About this question

What band do answers to this IELTS question usually get?

Across 2 graded answers on IELTSbiz, bands ranged from 5.5 to 7.5, with a median of Band 6.5. Each was marked on Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

What separates the Band 7.5 answer from the Band 5.5 answer?

The largest difference is Grammatical Range & Accuracy: 8 in the Band 7.5 answer against 5 in the Band 5.5 answer. Open each answer to read the examiner's reason for every criterion.

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