Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

A section of society express that by constructing several building blocks in the urban areas is the ideal method to provide homes to citizens. While I concur the concept to some extents, however, it will be not applicable in all circumstances as it leads to overcrowding and stressful conditions.

To begin with, constructing high-rise apartment blocks is an effective solution to the housing shortage because it allows a substantial number of people to live within a limited area of land.To vindicate, cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully addressed housing demand through extensive high-rise residential developments, enabling millions of people to live close to their workplaces and essential public amenities. Another compelling advantage is that concentrating residents in apartment complexes improves the efficiency of urban infrastructure and public services. When people live in densely populated areas, authorities can provide transportation, healthcare, electricity, and waste management more cost-effectively than in sprawling suburban neighbourhoods.

Nevertheless, h-rise apartment blocks often compromise residents’ quality of life. As an illustration of this, many people living in densely populated apartment complexes complain about constant noise, overcrowded shared facilities, and the lack of private outdoor space, all of which can negatively affect their physical and mental well-being. Another reason why I disagree is that relying solely on tall apartment buildings fails to address the root causes of housing shortages. Instead of concentrating thousands of people in one location, governments should adopt a more balanced strategy by developing satellite towns, improving transport networks, and encouraging residential construction in less populated areas.

Suffice to say, although tall apartment blocks can accommodate a large number of residents, I do not believe they represent the best solution to the housing shortage in large cities. This is because they may undermine people’s quality of life and fail to tackle the underlying causes of the problem. A more balanced approach that combines different types of housing with improved regional development would be far more sustainable and beneficial in the long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that acknowledges the benefits of high-rise buildings while arguing against them as the sole solution. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the points regarding urban infrastructure efficiency and the negative impact on mental well-being. You support your arguments with relevant examples, such as Singapore and Hong Kong. To reach a higher band, ensure your introduction is more grammatically precise; for instance, 'I concur the concept to some extents' is slightly awkward. Overall, your response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt with a balanced perspective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'To begin with,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'Suffice to say.' The transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, allowing the reader to follow your argument without difficulty. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. To improve further, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'To vindicate' is an unusual choice of transition here—'For instance' or 'To illustrate' would be more natural and effective in this context.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'urban infrastructure,' 'sprawling suburban neighbourhoods,' and 'underlying causes' show a good command of academic language. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'concur the concept' (which should be 'concur with the concept') and 'to some extents' (which should be 'to some extent'). However, these errors do not impede communication. You successfully use less common items, which helps convey your ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy reading. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as the redundant 'however' in the first paragraph ('While I concur... however, it will be...'), and the typo 'h-rise' in the third paragraph. Despite these, your control over complex structures is generally good. To improve, focus on eliminating redundant conjunctions and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement throughout your writing.

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

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