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)

The efficient approach to solve the problem of scarcity of houses in large cities is to construct tall apartment blocks. I firmly agree with the statement because it can reduce scarcity of houses and provides wider roads and decreases traffic jam. This essay will discuss the reasons why this approach is best to provide enough homes in large cities.

The shortages of houses is a common issue in big cities nowadays. Many people are unable to find their homes at better location and with basic facilities. The approach to build tall apartments can reduce this problem and provides many houses at one place, so people can purchase their houses at prime locations with several amenities at the building. It is better way to provide houses to many families at one area rather than providing one area to one family that can create substantial problems of shortages and diminish space for their public places and activities.

To solve the problem of scarcity of houses, there is another reason of my agreement with the approach of tall buildings, that is it can help to decrease road congestion, as many people are moving to large cities and purchase houses for their families, it increases road congestion because of increase in houses. It causes traffic jam every time on the roads and also increase the rate of accidents due to road congestion; however, tall buildings can provide many homes and people will purchases apartments rather than ground houses, which can increase space for wider roads and smooth traffic.

In conclusion, I strongly agree with the statement that the best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartments because it can alleviate the problem of shortages of houses, it can also provide wider roads and smoother driving experience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt clearly, maintaining a consistent position throughout. The arguments regarding housing density and urban planning are relevant. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument about traffic congestion is mentioned in the introduction and then revisited in the second body paragraph without adding significant new depth. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or explore the counter-arguments (e.g., the potential loss of community or architectural character) to demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of the topic. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points, but the overall development remains a bit superficial.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'to solve the problem of scarcity of houses' are used to transition between ideas, which can feel a bit forced. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'that can create substantial problems' in the second paragraph, where the antecedent is not immediately obvious. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'scarcity', 'amenities', and 'congestion'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a tendency to repeat words like 'houses', 'apartments', and 'problems'. There are also minor collocation issues, such as 'purchase their houses at prime locations' (usually 'buy property' or 'find homes') and 'increase the rate of accidents' (usually 'increase the risk of accidents'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic collocations would improve your score.

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, particularly with articles ('the shortages of houses', 'the approach to build') and subject-verb agreement ('it increases road congestion... and also increase the rate'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are slightly run-on or lack necessary commas to separate clauses effectively. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic article usage and ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects. Increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using more relative clauses or conditional sentences, would also be beneficial.

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

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