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)

Lately, the issue of housing shortages in major urban cities has become a hot topic for debate. Many authorities state that the most effective way to solve this case is to build multi-story residential buildings. In my opinion, alternative solutions are not as impactful as this measure, so I strongly agree with this statement.

Other approaches, such as urban expansion into the surrounding countryside, present significant drawbacks. Rural development requires vast amounts of stable, suitable land that meets strict safety and engineering standards. For instance, developing on unstable ground—such as areas affected by permafrost—can lead to severe structural collapse, foundation damage, or long-term environmental degradation. Repairing such damaged infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance, which drains local budgets. Additionally, suburban sprawl necessitates heavy investment in new transportation networks, extended utility lines, and public transit systems, placing a far greater financial burden on local governments than constructing urban apartments within existing utility grids.

On the other hand, constructing multi-story apartment blocks offers clear advantages in tackling modern urban density. Firstly, high-rise buildings maximize limited city space by expanding vertically, allowing municipalities to accommodate thousands of residents without consuming scarce land. Secondly, concentrating populations in central areas optimizes existing public infrastructure, such as water supply, electricity, and public transit networks, thereby reducing overall public expenditure.

In conclusion, while alternative strategies like urban expansion attempt to address housing shortages, they often suffer from geological constraints and excessive infrastructure costs. Therefore, I firmly believe that high-rise residential development remains the most practical and efficient long-term strategy for providing adequate housing in growing cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments are well-developed, particularly the comparison between vertical expansion and suburban sprawl. You provide logical justifications for your stance, such as the economic benefits of utilizing existing utility grids versus the high costs of new infrastructure. The response is balanced and directly answers the 'to what extent' component of the question. To reach a higher band, you could provide a slightly more nuanced counter-argument or a specific real-world example of a city that has successfully implemented high-rise housing to further strengthen your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'On the other hand,' which guide the reader through your argument. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words. The structure is highly effective in presenting your argument in a professional and academic manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a strong command of vocabulary, using precise and academic language such as 'urban density,' 'environmental degradation,' 'suburban sprawl,' and 'geological constraints.' The word choices are accurate and contribute to the formal tone of the essay. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors. While the vocabulary is sophisticated and fits the context well, incorporating a few more idiomatic or less common collocations could elevate the response further toward a band 9. Overall, the lexical range is more than sufficient for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your writing displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures and participial phrases (e.g., 'developing on unstable ground... can lead to...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex ideas. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is excellent throughout the text. This level of accuracy and structural variety is consistent with a high band score.

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

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