IELTS Sample Essay -- History of House (Reasons + Measures)

IELTS Writing Task 2 (Essay) Question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

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?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Essay question from Cambridge IELTS Book 16 (Academic)

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Sample Essay

There has been a growing interest in recent times among residents to know about the historical background of their residential property. The factors that contribute to this fascination with the history of one’s house are varied and so are the ways that one can research them.

One reason for increased fascination with the past of one’s place of residence is that a surge has been observed in the past decade or so among many towards a simpler living style. An example of such a living style is the houses of the olden days. As a result, people want to know more about how they were designed and built. Moreover, there is much that can be learnt from the environment-friendly construction material and architecture of the days gone by. An additional motivating factor for seeking out details of the history of a house is when the homeowners want to renovate a place but desire to maintain the original charm and character of the place. Another motive behind this could be to ensure that the material used in the house are not detrimental to health in any way. For instance, many old buildings used paint which had lead in it or used material which contained asbestos. It was later discovered that these can cause many health issues, both physical and mental, especially among young children. Therefore, a person would want to know about these details. Last but not the least, in my opinion, the primary reason why humans are keen to know things is that they are curious beings. The curiosity would be particularly piqued if one lives in their familial home, the history of which can open doors to the stories of one’s ancestors. This curiosity has soared recently as the sources by which we can search for information have skyrocketed thanks to the internet.

Whatever one’s motivation might be behind wishing to gather information about their abode, there are quite a few ways by which this information can be obtained. The best source, according to me, is to talk to one’s neighbours, especially the elderly lot. They can sometimes prove to be a trove of knowledge. Similarly, if the house is a recent purchase, the estate agent and the previous owner may also have information about this subject. Secondly, local libraries are a brilliant source of old documents including newspapers which may contain information about the construction of buildings as well as about the residents of the local area. Lastly, one can visit the government department that is responsible for approval and authorisation of the layout and design of buildings as they may have original design details along with facts about when the place was constructed, etc.

All in all, the history of any place can reveal many intriguing facts. And if this place is one’s own home, it becomes all the more fascinating. Also, there are different ways by which these facts can be discovered. It can be quite an adventure if one is truly passionate about hunting the treasures that their humble abode holds.