Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

It is thought that building tall apartment blocks is the best way to provide citizens with enough homes. I would argue that a reasonable city plan together with supportive policies might be a better approach.

First and foremost, it must be realized that while tall buildings can provide more apartments, it may be at the cost of the quality of people's lives. For instance, Shanghai, a cosmopolitan city in China, has a large population, and this number has been increasing rapidly, as individuals want to seek better opportunities in general. Research suggests that despite the exclusive lifestyle followed by the wealthy, the majority of job seekers living in apartment blocks always complain that they do not have sufficient space and it is too inconvenient to share one or two lifts with others. Additionally, the population in big cities will only go up in the future; it is impossible for governments to keep constructing without limit.

On the other hand, elected officials need to remember the reasons why we need more skyscrapers initially; cities have to be able to accommodate their citizens and an increasing number of people immigrate from rural areas to find better job opportunities, which is ultimately leading to the reason that governments want to improve the general public's well-being. Therefore, we can try to find other ways to approach it, such as a better city plan and supportive policies. For example, governments can invest in improving infrastructure in other areas and introduce policies that encourage people to move back to their hometown, balancing the population distribution in different areas. This can fundamentally turn the current situation around without compromising the quality of people's lives and other plans.

In conclusion, while I agree with the importance of accommodating citizens for cities, I believe that a better city plan and policies can strike a balance unlike building tall blocks, which may compromise the quality of people's lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the task and maintained a clear position throughout. Your argument against the exclusive use of tall apartment blocks is well-supported by the example of Shanghai and the logical point regarding the limits of urban construction. To reach a higher band, ensure that your alternative solutions are developed with equal depth. For instance, while you mention 'supportive policies' and 'infrastructure in other areas,' these ideas remain somewhat abstract. Providing a more concrete example of how decentralization has worked in another city would strengthen your argument and demonstrate a more comprehensive development of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Additionally,' and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the drawbacks of tall buildings from your proposed alternative solutions. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between the two main body paragraphs is slightly more seamless to avoid a sense of mechanical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'cosmopolitan city,' 'balancing the population distribution,' and 'fundamentally turn the current situation around' show a good command of language. There is an awareness of style and collocation, though some word choices are slightly repetitive or could be more sophisticated. For example, 'constructing without limit' could be replaced with more academic phrasing. Overall, your vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of your ideas without significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as the phrasing 'ultimately leading to the reason that governments want to,' which is slightly wordy and awkward. However, these errors do not impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or more varied passive constructions, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already achieved.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.