Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is true that finding enough living spaces for people in major cities has becomes a huge challenge. While many people think that constructing high rise building is the most effective solution to the issue. I believe that its only partial solution and other methods should also be used.

On the one hand, building tall apartment complexes can solve the housing shortage quickly because they maximize land use. In big cities, land is very scarce and expensive. By building vertically instead of horizontally, hundreds of apartments can be created on a single place of land. This allows more citizens to live near their workplaces which reduces commuting times. For instance, in cities like Tokyo or New York, high rise buildings are essential because millions of people need to live in small geographic area. Furthermore, living in apartment of often cheaper for young workers who cannot afford to buy traditional houses.

On the other hand, relying only on tall buildings can cause several serious problems for urban areas. Firstly, high population density in one place puts a heavy burden on city infrastructure. It leads to traffic congestion on the roads, overcrowded public transport, and long queues at local hospitals. Secondly, many high-rise buildings lack green spaces and recreational areas, which can negatively affect the mental health and well-being of the residents. Therefore, governments should invest in expanding suburban areas by building efficient train networks, allowing people to live comfortably outside the city center.

In conclusion, although constructing tall apartment blocks is a practical approach save space and provide affordable housing, it is not the single best way. Cities should combine this method with developing suburbs to ensure a better quality of life for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that tall buildings are only a partial solution. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples like Tokyo and New York. The argument is balanced, discussing both the benefits of high-density living and the drawbacks regarding infrastructure and mental health. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and provides a clear final stance. The response is well-developed and maintains a consistent focus throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Furthermore,' 'Firstly,' and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. While the flow is generally smooth, the transition between some ideas could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the higher bands. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the structure is clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas with precision. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'high population density,' 'urban areas,' 'infrastructure,' and 'commuting times.' There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'on a single place of land' (should be 'piece') and 'living in apartment of often cheaper' (should be 'apartments is often'). Despite these minor slips, the range is adequate for the task, and the meaning is always clear, justifying a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'has becomes' (should be 'has become'), 'constructing high rise building' (should be 'buildings'), and 'practical approach save space' (should be 'approach to saving space'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. The use of punctuation is generally correct, and the sentence variety is sufficient to support the argument effectively.

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

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