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)

There is no gainsaying that homes in metropolitan cities have limited land area, so building tall apartment blocks is the best option. I agree with the former view of this trend.

In metropolitan cities, the best option for builders to expand their business is to build tall apartments and buildings. They don't require enough land to build, so they don't face problems buying a large chunk of land, and it's profitable for the owner. For instance, Mumbai is a well-known city for skyscrapers and excellent architecture, and this city gives an enormous amount of career opportunities for people. Additionally, building tall apartments is good for our environment because they don't acquire large area to build a house and cause deforestation for building houses, so it's more convenient and eco-friendlier. Moreover, it is very space-efficient for people; they don't need to buy expensive land to build their houses, and it is cost-efficient for individuals who want to buy their dream house.

However, there are some minor issues with building tall buildings. They are very difficult to design because of its required great knowledge about architecture. Nonetheless, these problems would be manageable with accuracy and strategic planning because it is an art, so making it precisely will demonstrate the work of the planner.

In conclusion, although there are some problems in managing those huge and tall apartments, I think it would be manageable with proper management, strategy and policies, and it is the best way to provide a house in limited area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention environmental benefits and cost-efficiency, these points are not fully extended with detailed reasoning or specific evidence. For instance, the example of Mumbai is mentioned but not clearly linked to the argument about why skyscrapers are the 'best' solution compared to other urban planning strategies. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is thoroughly explained and connected back to the main thesis, providing more depth to your arguments rather than listing several brief points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'However' to signal transitions between ideas. While the progression is generally clear, the use of these devices can feel a bit mechanical at times. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main arguments from the counter-argument. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid, rather than relying on a standard list of transition words at the start of every paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'metropolitan', 'deforestation', and 'strategic planning'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'acquire large area' (should be 'occupy a large area') and 'making it precisely' (should be 'constructing them precisely'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and try to incorporate more academic, topic-specific vocabulary related to urban development and sustainability.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'they don't acquire large area' (missing article) and 'because of its required great knowledge' (awkward phrasing). Additionally, there are minor issues with subject-verb agreement and pronoun reference, such as 'making it precisely' referring back to 'tall buildings' (plural). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for articles, pluralisation, and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound.

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

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