Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-07
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 5.5)
In today's world, sufficient homes have become a widely debated issue. Some people think the effective way to provide sufficient homes in large cities is to build tall apartments. I completely agree with this view because apartments do not need a large space to construct.
One main reason why I support this statement is that apartments do not need a large space to accommodate housing. Whereas residential homes like single-floor buildings require more space, and only one family can stay. In this way, a substantial amount of space is required to live.
Another main reason is that apartment blocks can accommodate a much larger population. Since we know apartments have several floors and a number of rooms. So that hundreds of families can stay. Meanwhile, the same area could contain limited residential homes if private houses were constructed. So, constructing apartments can help cities provide sufficient housing for their growing population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 151 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack sufficient depth or illustrative examples. While you clearly state your position, the supporting points are repetitive and underdeveloped. To improve, you must expand on your arguments by providing specific examples, such as mentioning urban planning concepts or social implications of high-rise living, to ensure a more comprehensive response that meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices like 'One main reason' and 'Another main reason' to structure your points. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical, and the overall flow is limited by the brevity of the text. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the relationship between sentences is more sophisticated and less repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'sufficient homes' and 'large space'. While the meaning is clear, there is little attempt to use less common or more academic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to urban development, such as 'urban density', 'vertical expansion', or 'sustainable infrastructure', to demonstrate a more flexible control of language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are occasional grammatical errors, such as the sentence fragment 'So that hundreds of families can stay', which lacks a main verb. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, the lack of variety in sentence structure limits your score. To improve, focus on using a wider range of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or relative clauses, and ensure that all sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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