Task 2 · · 17 samples

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?

Practise this task →

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

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.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

337 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays, many citizens are curious to learn as much as possible about the house they live in, mainly because they want to learn about the background and style of their house, evaluate its safety level, and find out whether it haunted or not. I believe that nearby senior citizens and the internet can be two useful starting points for research. However, stories about ghosts are not evidence about a building's past or …

Read full answer & analysis →

AI-completed learning example

282 words · Illustrative target band

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 …

Read full answer & analysis →

AI-completed learning example

332 words · Illustrative target band

Along with the increase in people’s attention in history, adapting a hobby of exploring historical stories has been expanding across countries has become a trend. In some nations, residences are getting intrigued by the stories and histories of their constructions. In this essay, I will discuss how curiosity can attract people to delve into the past of a home and what methods can be used to investigate it. People ma…

Read full answer & analysis →