Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-01

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)

Saves land

Lower infrastructure cost

As urban populations continue to grow, many people argue that the most effective way to provide sufficient housing is by constructing tall apartment blocks. I partly agree with this opinion.

In the subsequent paragraphs, I will discuss on this.

To commence with, tall apartments save land. Vertically constructed buildings on small area of land not only have greater number of residents, but also acquire larger number of flats. To exemplify this, a single 20-storey apartment building can provide homes for hundreds of families on a plot of land where only a few detached houses could be built. Therefore, high-rise buildings are an effective solution to housing shortages in densely populated cities.

Conversely, living in densely populated areas can reduce people's quality of life. As more people live in the same area, public facilities such as schools, hospitals, and public transport can become overcrowded. In addition, residents may experience increased noise, reduced privacy, and limited access to green spaces. For example, families living in heavily populated apartment complexes often have limited access to parks and may face long waiting times for public services. Therefore, constructing tall apartment blocks alone is not always the best solution to housing shortages.

In conclusion, high-rise buildings are an effective solution to housing shortages in densely populated cities and saves land. on the other hand, it impacts on people's quality of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the benefits and drawbacks of tall apartment blocks. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the position is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the point regarding infrastructure costs mentioned in the introduction is not expanded upon in the body paragraphs. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure you meet the word count by providing more detailed explanations and perhaps a second example to support your claims. The conclusion is also quite abrupt and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Conversely', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the referencing is occasionally mechanical, and the flow between the introduction and the first body paragraph is slightly disjointed due to the informal opening. The conclusion is also very brief, which affects the overall progression of the argument. Improving the transition between ideas and ensuring the conclusion provides a more comprehensive summary would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'densely populated', 'vertically constructed', and 'housing shortages'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'acquire larger number of flats' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'impacts on' (which should be 'impacts'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repeating the same phrases, such as 'housing shortages', which appears multiple times.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'discuss on this' (should be 'discuss this') and 'saves land' (should be 'save land' to agree with the plural subject 'buildings'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor errors in capitalization in the conclusion. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. To reach a higher band, aim to use a wider variety of complex grammatical structures with greater consistency and accuracy.

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