Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03

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 6.0)

Housing shortages have become a serious problem in many large cities. High apartment blocks accommodate more people but I do not agree that this is the best solution to this problem.

It has been seen that people move from rural or suburban areas to big cities for better facilities regarding quality education, healthcare, and better employment. Instead of making apartments in large cities that are already crowded, development and improving the infrastructure in smaller cities should be the goal of the government and for the long run there would be an immense growth in the economy of the country. Better services will produce healthy and productive people and these facilities will generate a lot of job opportunities as well. If people can enjoy a quality living near to their hometowns, they will not prefer to relocate then, thereby reducing the pressure of housing in large cities.

Moreover, relying heavily on tall apartments can create severe problems for the long-run. Migration of people will put an extra burden on the hospital services, schools, markets and public transport in that cities. In addition to this, more residents means more traffic and consequently more pollution. Although, tall buildings take less space but a with the passage of time, construction of new apartments will reduce the greenery, affecting environment and living of the people. It has also been seen that when people relocate to urban areas from suburban or rural, they start feeling lonely which increases their stress level because they are not habitual of living in congested spaces. Therefore, expanding residential areas and improving transport networks can help to reduce the crowd of housing in big cities.

In conclusion, while tall apartment blocks are a practical way to accommodate many people, I do not believe they are the best solution to the housing shortage. A more sustainable approach is to reduce excessive migration by developing rural and suburban areas and ensuring that economic opportunities are distributed more evenly across the country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt clearly, maintaining a consistent position throughout. You argue against the idea that tall apartment blocks are the best solution, instead advocating for regional development. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the point regarding the strain on infrastructure and the psychological impact of urban density. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the counter-argument by acknowledging why some might see tall buildings as a necessity (e.g., land scarcity in existing megacities) before refuting it more thoroughly. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the benefits of regional development or the negative consequences of high-density living. You use cohesive devices like 'Moreover,' 'In addition to this,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied referencing. For instance, the link between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better connect the proposed solution with the problems of the current situation.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'accommodate more people,' 'immense growth,' and 'sustainable approach' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'making apartments' (better: 'constructing apartment blocks') and 'not habitual of living' (better: 'not accustomed to living'). While you use some academic vocabulary, incorporating more sophisticated, less common lexical items would elevate the response. The vocabulary is generally accurate and does not impede communication, fitting the criteria for a solid band 6 or 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several error-free sentences, but some grammatical slips persist. For example, 'in that cities' should be 'in those cities,' and 'a with the passage of time' contains an unnecessary article. Additionally, 'they will not prefer to relocate then' is slightly awkward phrasing. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of your argument. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as well as refining the structure of complex sentences to ensure they are error-free.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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