Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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)

In many large cities, the demand for housing is increasing because of population growth and urbanisation. Some people believe that building tall apartment blocks is the best way to provide enough homes. I partly agree with this view because high-rise buildings can provide a large number of homes, but they are not the only suitable solution.

One major advantage of tall apartment buildings is that they can accommodate many people in a limited area. Land in large cities is often expensive and difficult to obtain, so building upwards can be more practical than constructing houses over large areas. For example, a single high-rise building can provide homes for hundreds of families while using much less land than hundreds of separate houses. This can also help reduce the expansion of cities into surrounding rural areas.

However, relying only on tall buildings can create several problems. High-rise areas can become overcrowded if they are not properly planned. A large number of residents may put pressure on public transport, schools, hospitals and other services. In addition, some people may find apartment living less comfortable because they have limited private outdoor space. Therefore, cities should also consider other forms of housing, such as medium-sized apartment buildings and affordable houses in suitable areas.

In my opinion, tall apartment blocks are an effective way to solve housing shortages, particularly in densely populated cities. Nevertheless, they should be part of a wider housing strategy rather than being the only solution. Governments should combine high-rise developments with other types of housing and improve public facilities at the same time.

In conclusion, I partly agree that tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide homes in large cities. They make efficient use of limited land, but a mixture of housing types would be a more practical and sustainable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear, balanced position. You acknowledge the benefits of high-rise buildings while effectively arguing that they should be part of a broader urban strategy. The ideas are well-developed, with logical arguments provided for both the efficiency of land use and the potential drawbacks like overcrowding and infrastructure strain. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. To reach a higher band, you could include more specific real-world examples of cities that have successfully or unsuccessfully implemented high-density housing to further strengthen your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless'. The paragraphing is logical and helps the reader follow your argument easily. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat formulaic structure, ensuring that the flow between sentences feels even more natural and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Terms such as 'urbanisation', 'densely populated', 'housing shortages', and 'sustainable solution' are used accurately and appropriately. The language is natural and conveys your meaning clearly. While the vocabulary is effective, it is largely functional. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions, such as 'urban sprawl' instead of 'expansion of cities' or 'mitigate the pressure' instead of 'put pressure on'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional-like reasoning ('if they are not properly planned') and subordinate clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To move into the higher band, you could experiment with more advanced sentence structures, such as inversion or more varied passive constructions, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility 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.

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