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Writing Academic Task 2 Band 6.0 Example

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

282 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model 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 6.0

In recent years, there has been an increasing number of individuals who are keen on uncovering the history of their residences. This essay will examine the reasons behind this trend and suggest methods for conducting such research. One of the primary reasons for this growing interest is the scarcity of information about these buildings. Often, public records about an older property are incomplete, which can make its past seem like a mystery. Residents may become curious about who lived there before them, how the building was used, or whether it has any historical importance. This interest can also have practical causes. For example, owners who plan to repair or renovate their homes may want to know when they were built and what materials were originally used. This information could help them avoid damaging important features and make suitable decisions about the work.

There are several ways people can investigate a building’s history. They can begin by asking long-term neighbours or previous owners, who may know about changes to the property and the people who lived there. Local libraries and archives are also useful because they may hold old maps, photographs, newspapers and property records. In some places, government offices keep documents showing when a building was constructed or who owned it. Online databases can provide a convenient starting point, although information found online should be checked against reliable records. If these approaches do not provide enough detail, a local historian or specialist may be able to offer further help.

Overall, people are interested in a home’s history because they want to satisfy their curiosity or make informed decisions about it. Conversations, archives and official records can all help them discover its past.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Make the first reason explicit: explain that missing or incomplete records can prompt residents to investigate the mystery of a property’s past.
2
Develop each reason with one specific example, such as checking a building’s age before renovating it.
3
Keep the research section organised by source: personal contacts, local archives and official or online records.

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