Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-15

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, people do not recycle their rubbish as much as they could.

Why do you think this is? What can be done to change this?

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

Student answer (Band 6.0)

It is often argued that constructing tall apartment buildings is the most effective solution to the housing shortage in large cities. I mostly agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate more people while making better use of limited urban land. However, I also believe that this approach should be combined with careful urban planning.

One major advantage of building tall apartment blocks is that they allow a large number of families to live in a relatively small area. As cities continue to grow, vacant land becomes increasingly scarce and expensive. By developing vertically rather than horizontally, governments can provide housing for more residents without expanding into farmland or green spaces. This not only helps meet the growing demand for homes but also protects the natural environment surrounding cities.

Despite these advantages, relying entirely on apartment blocks may create certain problems. If too many people are concentrated in one area without sufficient infrastructure, issues such as overcrowding, noise, and pressure on public services may arise. Furthermore, some families prefer detached houses with private gardens, especially those with young children. Therefore, city planners should ensure that high-rise developments are supported by parks, recreational areas, schools, healthcare facilities, and reliable transport systems.

In conclusion, I agree that tall apartment buildings are one of the best ways to solve housing shortages in large cities because they maximise land use and provide homes for a growing population. Nevertheless, they should be part of a broader urban planning strategy that ensures comfortable and sustainable living conditions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 2.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for reasons why people do not recycle and how to change this, but the essay discusses the housing shortage and high-rise apartment buildings. Because the response fails to address the task requirements entirely, it cannot be assessed for task achievement in relation to the prompt provided. The content is irrelevant to the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Despite being off-topic, the essay itself is well-structured. It uses clear paragraphing, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of arguments regarding urban planning is logical and easy to follow, demonstrating a good grasp of paragraph-level organization.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is varied and appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'vacant land becomes increasingly scarce', 'developing vertically', and 'broader urban planning strategy' show a good range of lexical items. The language is precise and used with natural control, which would be highly effective if the essay had addressed the correct prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is strong, featuring a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('If too many people are concentrated...') and participial phrases ('By developing vertically...'). The writing is largely error-free, with accurate punctuation and consistent control over tense and subject-verb agreement. The grammatical range is sufficient to support clear communication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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