Cambridge IELTS 16 Test 1 Writing Task 2: History of Your House
Cambridge IELTS 16 · Test 1 · Academic Writing Task 2Two-part questionSociety
The question says that in some countries more and more people want to find out about the history of the house or building they live in. Candidates must answer two questions: why this interest is growing, and how people can research the history of their home.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. 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? Write at least 250 words.
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How to read the question
- This is a two-part question, so both parts need roughly equal, fully developed coverage: reasons for the interest, and methods of research. There is no request for your opinion on whether the trend is good or bad.
- The first question asks for reasons, not effects. Explain why people want to know about their home, for example a need for belonging, media influence or practical renovation needs.
- The second question asks how people can research this, so give concrete methods and sources, such as archives, old maps, census records, neighbours or the building itself, rather than vague advice like use the internet.
- The topic is the history of the specific house or building people live in, not history in general and not family history, although genealogy can be mentioned as a related interest.
- The phrase more and more people signals a trend, so reasons that explain a recent increase (online access to records, television programmes, mobility) are stronger than reasons that have always existed.
- A short conclusion should summarise the answer to both questions; it does not need a personal view on the trend.
Suggested position
This growing curiosity stems mainly from a desire to feel connected to a place and from the influence of the media, and people can satisfy it by consulting official records, local knowledge and the evidence in the building itself.
Paragraph plan
- 1
Introduction
Paraphrase the statement about growing interest in the history of people's homes, then say that the essay will explain the reasons for this and suggest ways of carrying out such research.
- 2
Body paragraph 1: reasons
Give two or three developed reasons: a wish for a sense of belonging in a mobile society, television programmes and genealogy websites that make house history fashionable, and practical motives such as restoring original features or adding value when selling.
- 3
Body paragraph 2: ways of researching
Explain specific methods: official records such as land registries, planning files and census returns, many now online; old maps and photographs in local libraries and archives; talking to neighbours, local history societies or previous owners; and examining architectural clues in the building itself.
- 4
Conclusion
Briefly restate the main reasons for the trend and the main research methods, without adding new ideas.
Ideas and arguments
- Many people move house frequently for work, so learning about their home's past helps them feel rooted in a new community.
- Television programmes and websites about genealogy and house history have made the subject popular and shown that ordinary homes have interesting stories.
- Owners renovating old properties want to restore original features such as fireplaces or windows accurately.
- A documented history, for example a famous former resident, can make a property more attractive to buyers.
- Digitised census returns, land registry records and planning applications can be searched online, often for free.
- Historical maps and photographs in local libraries and archives show when a building first appeared and how the street changed.
- Elderly neighbours, local history societies and previous owners can provide memories, documents and photographs.
- Architectural details such as brick type, window style or a date stone above the door indicate a building's age.
Band 8+ model answer
305 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.
In several countries, an increasing number of people are keen to discover the past of the home or building they occupy. This essay will explain why this curiosity is growing and outline several practical ways in which residents can investigate the history of their property.
The main reason for this trend is arguably a desire for a sense of belonging. In an era when many people relocate frequently for work, learning who built their house, who lived there before them and what the street looked like a century ago can create an emotional bond with a place. A second factor is the popularity of history and genealogy in the media; television programmes that uncover the stories behind ordinary homes have shown viewers that their own address may have a fascinating past. Finally, there are practical motives: owners planning renovations often wish to restore original features accurately, and a well-documented history can make a property more attractive to buyers.
Fortunately, researching a building has never been easier. The most obvious starting point is official records, such as land registries, planning applications and census returns, many of which have now been digitised and can be searched online. Old maps and photographs held in local libraries or archives can reveal when a building first appeared and how its surroundings have changed. Residents can also draw on human sources, since long-standing neighbours and local history societies may share memories or documents. Lastly, the building itself provides evidence, as the brickwork, window style or a date carved above the door can indicate its age.
In conclusion, interest in the history of homes stems largely from a wish to feel rooted, reinforced by media coverage and practical renovation needs. By combining archives, local knowledge and close observation of the building, people can piece together a remarkably detailed picture of its past.
Why this answer scores highly
- Task Response
- Both questions are answered fully and in balance, with each reason and each research method extended with a concrete example, and the conclusion clearly summarises the response to both parts.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Each body paragraph deals with one question, ideas are sequenced with signposts such as the main reason, a second factor, the most obvious starting point and lastly, and referencing avoids repetition.
- Lexical Resource
- Topic-specific vocabulary such as land registries, census returns, digitised, genealogy and architectural details is used precisely, alongside natural collocations like feel rooted and create an emotional bond.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- The essay uses a range of complex structures, including relative clauses, passive forms, conditionals and cleft-like emphasis, with very few errors.
Useful vocabulary
- a sense of belonging
- the feeling of being connected to and accepted in a place or group
- genealogy
- the study of family history and ancestors
- local archives
- collections of historical documents kept by a town or region
- census returns
- official records of who lived at each address when a population count was taken
- land registry
- an official record of who owns land and property
- planning applications
- official requests to build or change a building, kept on record by local councils
- digitised records
- old documents that have been scanned and made available on computers or online
- previous occupants
- people who lived in a building before the current residents
- architectural features
- details of a building's design, such as windows, brickwork or roofs
- period property
- an old house built in a particular historical style
- local history society
- a group of volunteers who study and record the past of an area
- restore original features
- repair or rebuild parts of a building so they look as they did when built
- feel rooted
- feel settled and connected to a place
Common mistakes
- Answering only one of the two questions, or writing four paragraphs on reasons and one sentence on methods.
- Writing about why history in general is important, or about family history, instead of the history of the house or building people live in.
- Giving an opinion on whether the trend is positive or negative, which the question does not ask for, at the expense of the two required parts.
- Suggesting vague methods such as search on the internet without saying which records or sources to look at.
- Listing many reasons in a single sentence each without explaining or exemplifying any of them.
- Copying the question's wording in the introduction instead of paraphrasing it.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Cambridge book is this question from?
- This question about researching the history of the house or building you live in is Writing Task 2 of Test 1 in Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic, published in 2021.
- Do I need to give my opinion in this essay?
- No. The two questions ask for reasons and methods, so you only need to answer those; adding an opinion on the trend is optional and should not replace either part.
- How many reasons and methods should I give?
- Two or three well-developed reasons and three or four specific research methods are enough. Depth and examples matter more than a long list.
- How many words should I write?
- Write at least 250 words; around 270-300 words gives enough space to develop both parts in 40 minutes.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.