Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Rapid urbanisation has created a serious housing shortage in many large cities. Some people believe that constructing apartment block is the best solution to provide enough homes for the growing population. I partly agree with this view because apartment is highly efficient, but they should be combined with other types of housing.

To begin with, apartment blocks are an effective way to accommodate a large number of people in limited area. As a result, governments can provide affordable housing for more resident. In addition, modern apartment blocks often include facilities such as parking areas, security systems, parks, and shopping centers, which improve residents quality of life and make daily living more convenient.

On the other hand, relying entirely on apartment blocks may not be the ideal solution. Many families prefer detached or semi-detached house because they offer more privacy, outdoor space, and quieter environment. Furthermore, overcrowded apartment building can increase traffic congestion, place pressure on public service, and reduce access to green spaces. Therefore, cities should also encourage the development of town house, suburban houses, mixed-used communities.

In conclusion, although apartment blocks are an efficient and practical way to address housing shortages in large cities. A balance approach that combines high-rise apartments with other form of housing is the most effective way to create sustainable, comfortable and inclusive urban communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments provided. While the position is clear and maintained throughout, the supporting ideas, such as the mention of 'mixed-used communities', are not fully developed or explained. To reach a higher band, you must expand on your points with more specific examples or detailed reasoning to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are minor issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the sentence fragment in the conclusion: 'Although apartment blocks are an efficient and practical way to address housing shortages in large cities.' This should be connected to the following sentence to maintain flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some topic-specific terms like 'urbanisation', 'housing shortage', and 'sustainable'. However, there are several instances of singular/plural errors that affect lexical accuracy, such as 'constructing apartment block' (should be 'blocks'), 'more resident' (should be 'residents'), and 'other form of housing' (should be 'forms'). While the range is sufficient to convey your meaning, more sophisticated collocations and precise word choices would be needed to reach a higher band. Focus on ensuring nouns agree with their quantifiers.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding pluralization and article usage, such as 'residents quality of life' (missing apostrophe) and 'a balance approach' (should be 'a balanced approach'). The sentence in the conclusion is a fragment, which negatively impacts the grammatical control. To improve, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while ensuring accuracy will help elevate your score.

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