Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

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 this.

To commence with, tall apartments save land. Vertically constructed buildings on a small area of land not only have a greater number of residents, but also accommodate a 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. Moreover, high-rise apartment buildings can reduce infrastructure costs because essential services such as roads, water supply, electricity, and sewage systems can be provided to a large number of households within a compact area. Therefore, high-rise buildings are an effective solution to housing shortages in densely populated cities and is often more cost-effective than extending these services to widely spread residential neighborhoods.

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, I partly agree that high-rise apartment buildings are an effective way to address housing shortages because they make efficient use of limited land. However, relying solely on this approach may negatively affect people's quality of life due to overcrowding and increased pressure on public facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that is maintained throughout. The arguments regarding land efficiency and infrastructure costs are well-developed, as is the counter-argument regarding quality of life. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the comparison between high-rise buildings and detached houses. The response is balanced, acknowledging the benefits while highlighting the drawbacks, which demonstrates a good level of critical thinking. To reach a higher band, you could further elaborate on how urban planning might mitigate the negative effects mentioned, such as incorporating vertical green spaces or better public transport integration.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', 'Conversely', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow is smooth, and the reader is never confused about the writer's stance or the relationship between the arguments presented. The structure is sound and supports the overall argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. You used terms like 'densely populated', 'infrastructure costs', and 'compact area' effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally accurate. However, the range could be broader to demonstrate more sophisticated control. For instance, instead of repeating 'housing shortages' or 'tall apartment blocks', you could use synonyms like 'accommodation scarcity' or 'high-density residential developments'. The word choice is generally natural, and there are no significant errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is a minor subject-verb agreement error in the first paragraph: 'high-rise buildings... is often more cost-effective' should be 'are often more cost-effective'. Despite this, the control over punctuation and sentence construction is strong. The use of complex sentences, such as 'Vertically constructed buildings on a small area of land not only have a greater number of residents, but also accommodate a larger number of flats', shows a good grasp of grammatical variety.

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