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Writing Academic Task 2 Band 9.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

332 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Practical motivation: understanding a building’s age and past alterations can help owners plan suitable maintenance and repairs.
  • Legal motivation: checking heritage status can clarify whether regulations restrict proposed changes.
  • Personal motivation and research: curiosity about past residents can be explored through official records, archives, local interviews and expert inspection.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the growing interest and state the main practical reasons.
  2. Develop personal curiosity or connection to the property as an additional reason.
  3. Explain official sources, such as council, land registry and archive records.
  4. Add interviews and professional assessment, then conclude by summarising how these sources work together.
Useful vocabulary & examples
heritage status
official recognition that a building has historical or cultural importance, often with rules about changes

Owners can check a property's heritage status before planning major alterations.

land registry
an official organisation or record system containing information about property ownership

The land registry may help researchers identify previous owners.

documentary evidence
information found in written or recorded sources, such as deeds, maps or permits

Researchers can compare documentary evidence with accounts from former residents.

building surveyor
a professional who examines a building's condition and construction

A building surveyor may identify features that indicate when parts of a property were added.

Task Prompt

In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in. What are the reasons for this? How can people research this?

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 9.0

In several nations, there is a marked increase in individuals exhibiting a heightened curiosity about the historical narrative of their homes or buildings. This essay will discuss the factors that contribute to this emerging trend and propose ways people can investigate the antecedents of their structures. One potential driving force behind this growing interest is a wish to understand the people and events connected with a familiar place.

People may want to understand how their home connects to the community around it. Discovering who lived there, how the neighbourhood changed or why a particular feature was built can make an ordinary building feel more meaningful. Family stories and unusual architectural details can create a starting point for this curiosity, especially when a property has been used in several different ways.

There may also be practical reasons. Someone planning repairs or alterations can benefit from knowing when parts of the building were added and how earlier work was carried out. Historical information may help them identify original features worth preserving. However, old records do not replace a current professional inspection; a building's present safety cannot be established from its age or history alone.

A useful research process begins with accessible documents. Local archives, libraries and planning offices may hold maps, photographs, permits or records of previous ownership. Comparing items from different dates can show how a building or street developed. Owners should check what records are actually available in their area rather than assume that every property has a complete archive.

Long-term residents and previous occupants can add valuable memories. Their accounts may explain details absent from official documents, but dates and claims should be checked against other sources where possible. Reputable local history websites can help locate material, while unsupported online stories should be treated cautiously.

In conclusion, personal curiosity, a sense of belonging and plans for renovation all help explain this interest. Combining documentary evidence with carefully checked oral accounts offers a more reliable history than depending on a single anecdote.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Make the introduction answer the exact question rather than only announcing that the topic will be discussed.
2
Develop one concrete example for each main reason and state the limit of any broad claim.
3
Revise the quoted phrases in context, keeping the same position and factual scope.

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