Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-31

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 7.0)

In many large cities, housing shortages have become a serious challenge due to rapid population growth and urbanization. Some people believe that constructing tall apartment buildings is the most effective way to provide enough housing. I strongly agree with this view because high rise buildings make better use of land and improve access to urban facilities. However, they should be part of a broader housing strategy rather than the only solution.

One major advantages of tall blocks is that they maximize the use of scarce land. In highly populated cities, there is often little space available for new housing developments. By building upwards instead of outwards, government and developers can accommodate far more residents within the same area. For example, Singapore have successfully relied on high rise residential buildings to house millions of people while maintaining efficient land use.

Furthermore, apartment blocks can improve access to essential services. High density housing allows schools, hospitals, public transport, and shopping centers to be built nearby, making daily life more convenient for residents. This can reduce commuting time and encourages the use of public transport which may help decrease traffic congestion and pollution.

Nevertheless, relying solely on tall buildings may create problems. Poorly designed apartment complexes can become overcrowded, noisy, and stressful to live. More so, It can collapse when poorly constructed. In addition, some families prefer houses with gardens, pools and play ground, especially those with young children. Therefore, city planners should also invest in such housing developments and efficient transport system.

In conclusion, I agree that tall apartment blocks are one of the most practical ways to address housing shortages in large cities because they make efficient use of limited land and support urban planning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments for the benefits of high-rise buildings, such as land efficiency and access to services, while also acknowledging potential drawbacks. The ideas are generally well-developed, although the counter-argument regarding safety (e.g., 'It can collapse when poorly constructed') is a bit simplistic and could have been expanded with more nuance. Overall, the response is balanced and directly answers the prompt, demonstrating a good understanding of the requirements for an academic essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'In addition' to link ideas. While the progression is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and that referencing is consistently precise throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'urbanization', 'scarce land', and 'housing shortages'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'One major advantages' (should be 'advantage') and 'play ground' (should be 'playgrounds'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise academic terminology to enhance the overall tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Singapore have successfully' should be 'has successfully') and prepositional errors ('stressful to live' should be 'stressful to live in'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization slips, such as 'More so, It can...'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and sentence structure will help improve your accuracy.

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