Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Student answer (Band 5.0)

"The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks. I totally agree with it because by making tall buildings people will have space to plant trees and can also build lot of parks."

"Firstly, Planting trees are really essential for humans. Tress give as oxygen, carbon-dioxide, food and other stuffs but nowadays afforesting trees in cities are really rare. Instead of planting trees humans are moving towards deforestation to build Houses in the cities. If humans start building large apartments instead of the smaller one's they can provide space for the plant. Cities are nowadays becoming more hotter than it used to be, the exact reason for this is deforestation. Peoples are also increasing global warming just by cutting down trees."

"Secondly, By building Large apartments in the cities there will also be left out spaces to build parks. Nowadays kids or elders don't have space to play or walk around in cities. So building large apartments would also left spaces to build parks near them. Parks will keep elders and kids stay active and fit. in contrast, it will refresh their minds."

"Parks can contain a lot of trees and by having lot of trees will also keep the city warm. Building large apartments are a really good idea because there aren't a lot of space left in cities to build parks. In conclusion building parks will also help peoples to plant trees there. Large apartments will also provide more homes it it will also cost less space so it's a really great idea."

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

Your position is clear: you agree that tall apartment blocks can help provide homes, and you give related reasons involving space for trees and parks. However, the response addresses the task only partially because it focuses mainly on environmental and recreational benefits, with little explanation of how high-rise construction supplies enough homes or why it is the best approach compared with alternatives. Several points are repeated, and claims such as parks keeping the city “warm” are unclear or unsupported. The response is also 247 words, below the 250-word minimum; the 16 words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop the housing argument with a specific example and explain the limits or advantages of other approaches.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “Firstly” and “Secondly,” and a conclusion. This gives the reader some organisation, and the main ideas about trees and parks are grouped into relevant paragraphs. However, progression is limited because the same point—that tall buildings leave space for parks and trees—is repeated in the second body paragraph and conclusion without being extended. Some links are awkward or unclear, such as “in contrast” before a supporting point, and the final paragraph combines several ideas without a clear sequence. Use linking phrases to show the actual relationship between ideas, and make each paragraph develop a distinct reason.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate basic ideas, including “deforestation,” “global warming,” “apartments,” and “parks.” However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, particularly “building large apartments,” “trees,” and “space.” There are also noticeable word-choice, spelling, and collocation problems, such as “Tress,” “other stuffs,” “planting trees are really rare,” and “keep the city warm,” which make some meanings imprecise. Aim for more accurate phrases such as “green space,” “accommodate more residents,” and “reduce urban heat,” and check spelling and countability. More precise vocabulary would help you explain the housing issue rather than relying mainly on general environmental terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can generally follow your main points. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “Planting trees are” has subject–verb disagreement, while “If humans start building large apartments … they can provide space” has an unclear subject and reference. Other examples include “Cities are … more hotter than it used to be,” “would also left spaces,” and “it it will also cost less space.” Capitalisation and sentence punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “Secondly, By” and “fit. in contrast.” Practise accurate agreement, verb forms, comparisons, and sentence boundaries, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and complete verb.

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

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