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New Homes in the Countryside Essay

In this IELTS new homes in the countryside essay you have to discuss whether it is appropriate to build houses in rural areas given that cities often have no space for more homes.

Take a look at the essay question and model answer, followed by comments on the essay.

Essay Sample

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In many places, new homes are needed, but the only place available for building them is in the countryside. Some people believe it is more important to protect the countryside and not build new homes there while others believe we should build houses wherever possible.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

In many regions, the demand for housing is rising rapidly, and rural areas are increasingly being considered for development. This has led to a debate between those who wish to protect the countryside and those who argue for building homes wherever space is available.

One argument for not building in the countryside is the need to preserve natural habitats as rural areas are often home to endangered wildlife species. For instance, some parts of the English countryside, such as the Norfolk Broads, support rare birds and plant species that could be lost if urbanisation spreads. Another argument is the cultural and heritage value. Areas like the Cotswolds in England or Provence in France are known for their historic charm. Expanding housing developments could damage the identity and visual appeal of these regions.

Despite this, there remain strong arguments for building homes wherever necessary. The lack of housing is at crisis point in many places, and housing in capital cities is just too expensive for many. So expanding into rural zones is really the only option. It could also lead to economic opportunities for rural areas if development can bring jobs, infrastructure, and investment. For example, new housing in Cambridgeshire villages in the UK has led to better transport links and more local shops and schools.

Overall, governments need a balanced approach, whereby they designate specific zones for development while protecting areas of high ecological or cultural importance. Homes can also be built using sustainable materials with minimal environmental impact can reduce harm, such as to“Passivhaus” standards. Through such careful planning, new housing can be built while still protecting natural environments.

271 Words

Comments

Task Response:

This building new homes in the countryside essay addresses all parts of the task effectively. Both views are clearly presented, with relevant examples, and a clear opinion is given and supported in the conclusion. The argument is balanced and well-developed throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion:

Ideas are logically organised, and there is clear progression from introduction to conclusion. Cohesive devices such as “for instance,” “despite this,” “overall,” and “such as” are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader.

Lexical Resource:

The essay demonstrates a good range of vocabulary. Examples include:

  • “natural habitats” 
  • “historic charm” 
  • “urbanisation” 
  • “designate specific zones”
  • “ecological or cultural importance”

These show precision and an ability to express complex ideas clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy:

A variety of grammatical structures is used accurately. For example:

  • “Homes can also be built using sustainable materials with minimal environmental impact…” shows correct use of the passive voice and complex sentence structure.

  • "It could also lead to economic opportunities for rural areas if development can bring jobs, infrastructure, and investment.” This sentence includes a first conditional structure, which shows an understanding of how to express cause and possible future result.

  • "Areas like the Cotswolds in England or Provence in France are known for their historic charm.” This structure correctly uses the present passive voice (“are known”) to describe general knowledge, which is appropriate for formal writing.

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