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)

The excellent way to make available houses in big towns is to construct sky scrapers. I completely agree with this statement, high rise buildings can accommodate more people while making better use of limited land.

Firstly, tall apartment blocks can provide housing for a large number of people in a small area. Since land in major cities is expensive and limited, building upwards is a practical solution. This allows governments to meet the growing demand for homes without expanding the city into surrounding farmland or green spaces. As a result, more families can live close to schools, hospitals, and workplaces. As high rise buildings also have much mesmerizing views from top of the apartments, in balcony they also get fresh air and have fun with their children in tranquil environment.

Furthermore, high-rise apartments can improve urban planning and reduce living costs. When many people live in one building, it is easier and cheaper to provide public services such as transport, electricity, and water. In addition, residents can enjoy shared facilities like parking areas, parks, gyms, and security systems. For example, cities such as Singapore have successfully used apartment blocks to provide affordable and well-organized housing for millions of people.

On the other hand, some people argue that building tall apartment blocks is not the best solution. They believe that high-rise buildings can become overcrowded, increase traffic congestion, and reduce people’s privacy. In addition, families with children may prefer living in houses with gardens instead of small apartments. Therefore, some cities should also develop suburban housing projects to provide people with more living options.

In conclusion, although tall apartment buildings may have some disadvantages, I believe they are the most effective way to provide enough homes in large cities because they save land, accommodate more people, and support better urban life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt by taking a firm position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You cover both the benefits of high-rise living, such as land efficiency and service provision, and acknowledge the counter-arguments regarding privacy and congestion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the example of Singapore, which adds weight to your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your counter-argument is balanced more effectively against your main position; while you mention the downsides, you could briefly explain why the benefits still outweigh these concerns in the conclusion to further strengthen your overall stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Your essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth, though some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'urban planning', 'traffic congestion', and 'tranquil environment'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'The excellent way to make available houses' (better: 'The most effective way to provide housing') and 'mesmerizing views' (which is slightly unnatural in this context). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, these occasional slips prevent a higher score. Focusing on more natural collocations will help improve your lexical precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the essay. There are several error-free sentences, and your control of grammar is generally good. However, there are some minor errors, such as 'in balcony they also get fresh air' (missing article: 'on the balcony') and 'As high rise buildings also have much mesmerizing views' (should be 'many' or 'stunning'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to keep the score at a 6.5. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for small articles and prepositions would enhance your accuracy.

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

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