Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05

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)

It is often debated whether the unique way to provide enough accommodation in big urban area is build tall apartment blocks. i completely agree with this view that the primary role of cities must be to expanse with tall building required for houses. this essay will discuss the main reason behind this stance

The primary reason why tall apartment blocks are the optimal choice is their unmatched land efficiency. Large cities suffer from a severe scarcity of available land, which drives property prices to extreme highs. By building vertically rather than horizontally, developers can house hundreds of families on a single plot of land that would otherwise only accommodate a few detached houses. This vertical density effectively prevents urban sprawl, protecting the surrounding countryside, forests, and agricultural lands from being destroyed by encroaching suburbs. Furthermore, it is far more cost-effective for municipal governments to connect one single skyscraper to essential public utilities—such as water mains, electricity grids, and sewage systems—than it is to extend infrastructure across miles of spread-out suburban neighborhoods.

In addition to spatial efficiency, high-rise developments offer massive environmental and logistical advantages. When residential zones are densely concentrated within the urban core, citizens live much closer to commercial districts, offices, and schools. This geographical proximity reduces commute times and eliminates the need for long daily drives from outer suburbs, thereby decreasing traffic congestion. Consequently, high-density areas make public transit networks, such as subways and city buses, financially viable and highly patronized. With more residents walking, cycling, or using public transport, the overall carbon footprint of the city drops significantly, leading to cleaner air and a more sustainable urban environment.

In conclusion, constructing tall apartment complexes is the most pragmatic approach to tackling the urban housing crisis. This strategy not only maximizes limited land resources and streamlines city infrastructure but also fosters eco-friendly, transit-oriented communities that are vital for the future of major cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. The ideas are well-developed, focusing on land efficiency, environmental benefits, and infrastructure costs. The arguments are logical and supported with relevant explanations, such as the connection between high-density living and reduced carbon footprints. The introduction is slightly weak due to grammatical errors, but the overall task response is strong, providing a coherent and well-supported argument throughout the essay. The position is consistent and clearly articulated in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of land efficiency and environmental advantages is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore,' 'In addition to,' and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. While the opening paragraph is a bit disjointed due to punctuation and capitalization issues, the overall structure remains clear and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is varied and appropriate for an academic context. The student uses sophisticated collocations and terms such as 'unmatched land efficiency,' 'urban sprawl,' 'geographical proximity,' and 'financially viable.' These choices demonstrate a good range and precision. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. While the range is strong, it stops just short of the 'very natural, sophisticated control' required for a band 9, but it comfortably sits within the band 8 range due to the effective use of topic-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like logic and relative clauses. However, there are noticeable errors in the introduction, specifically regarding capitalization ('i') and basic sentence structure ('unique way... is build'). These are minor but persistent enough to prevent a higher score. The majority of the essay is error-free, and the punctuation is generally handled well. The grammatical control is strong in the body paragraphs, showing a mix of simple and complex forms that are mostly accurate.

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

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