Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

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 5.5)

It is often argued that the best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks which become a major issue in modern society, and people have different opinions about it. I strongly agree with this statement because it has more positive effects on society. This essay will examine the primary factors supporting this stance and explain why this trend is significant today.

To begin with, one of the main reasons behind this is the lack of land for individual housing, which plays a significant role in the. This means that if there is not proper commercial property land for people who want to live in individual housing society. For example in countries, people are already experiencing this situation in their routine activities and professional lives. Therefore it is clear that this factor strongly supports the given opinion and provides a solid basis for this argument.

Another important point to consider is that they help protect the environment and reduce urban sprawl, Which also contributes to this issue in a meaningful way. In other words, By building upwards instead of outwards, cities preserve farmland, forests and open space. High-rise buildings also make public transport and services more accessible because more people live in the same area. For instance, many people nowadays Cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong accommodate large population through high rise apartments while using land efficiently to achieve their goals or overcome daily hurdles. As a result, it becomes evident that this trend is beneficial and has lasting impact on the community.

In conclusion, although some people believe that apartments are more comfortable and best as compared to housing society, I strongly believe that I agree with this point because it is more practical and realistic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The main ideas—land scarcity and environmental benefits—are relevant to the prompt. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, in the second paragraph, the explanation regarding 'commercial property land' is vague and lacks clarity, making it difficult for the reader to follow your logic. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explained with concrete reasoning rather than general statements. While you provided examples like Singapore and Hong Kong, the connection between these examples and your argument could be more explicitly articulated to strengthen your overall position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'To begin with', 'In other words', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'which also contributes to this issue in a meaningful way' where the reference to 'this issue' is ambiguous. Additionally, some sentences within paragraphs lack smooth flow, particularly in the second paragraph where the phrasing is repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urban sprawl', 'high-rise buildings', and 'accommodate'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'individual housing society' and 'overcome daily hurdles'. Some vocabulary is used in a way that sounds slightly unnatural or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'this' to refer to broad concepts. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated synonyms for common words will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is a positive step. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with sentence fragments (e.g., 'This means that if there is not proper commercial property land for people who want to live in individual housing society.'), incorrect punctuation, and capitalization errors (e.g., 'Which', 'Cities'). Some sentences are poorly constructed, which occasionally hinders the clarity of your message. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for punctuation and capitalization. Increasing your control over complex structures while reducing basic errors will significantly improve your score in this criterion.

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

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