Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

It has been observed that the greatest way to deliver residence in large rural cities is to construct tallest building blocks. I agree with this viewpoint to a large extent. My inclination is explained in the upcoming paragraphs with valid reasons and appropriate examples.

The fundamental reason for inclination is that, more houses build for people to using small land. Large cities have very limited land, so building upwards allows many families to live in the same area instead of using large amounts of land for separate houses. For example, a single 30-storey apartment building can accommodate hundreds of families, whereas the same land could only hold a few detached houses. As more people move to cities for education and employment, the demand for housing increases. High-rise apartments help meet this demand efficiently. For instance, cities like Mumbai and Singapore use apartment blocks to provide homes for their rapidly growing populations.

Furthermore, Apartment buildings are usually constructed near city centres, where schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and public transport are easily available. This improves people's quality of life. For example, residents can commute by metro or bus instead of travelling long distances by private vehicles. Building vertically reduces urban sprawl, which helps preserve agricultural land and green spaces. It also lowers energy use because apartments share walls and utilities. For example, fewer roads and utility lines are needed, and shared heating or cooling systems consume less energy than individual houses.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that constructing tall apartment blocks is the most effective way to address housing shortages in large cities. They make better use of limited land, accommodate a growing population, provide easier access to essential facilities, and promote more sustainable urban development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant and well-supported with specific examples, such as the mention of Mumbai and Singapore. The ideas are logically extended, particularly regarding the benefits of vertical living for urban planning and sustainability. The introduction and conclusion effectively frame the argument, ensuring the reader understands the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, the writer could further explore potential counter-arguments or nuances, such as the social implications of high-density living, to demonstrate a more comprehensive evaluation of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'In conclusion'. Referencing is generally clear, and the structure of the argument follows a logical path from land efficiency to infrastructure benefits. While the use of cohesive devices is effective, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the flow between sentences is more nuanced would elevate the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task, allowing for clear communication of ideas. The writer uses topic-specific terms such as 'urban sprawl', 'accommodate', and 'sustainable urban development' appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as the phrase 'deliver residence in large rural cities', which is contradictory as the prompt specifies 'large cities'. Additionally, 'tallest building blocks' is slightly awkward; 'high-rise apartment blocks' would be more natural. Expanding the range of collocations and refining word choices would help the writer achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and complex structures are attempted, such as 'whereas the same land could only hold a few detached houses'. However, there are occasional errors, such as 'more houses build for people to using small land', which contains grammatical inaccuracies in verb form and preposition usage. Punctuation is generally accurate, but there are minor slips in sentence construction. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help the writer reach the next band level.

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