Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
It is widely asserted that constructing high rising apartment blocks to provide sufficient housing in large cities is the most proper way. I firmly agree with this viewpoint because establishment of such infrastructure will actually save a large amount of land consumption.
To begin with, tall buildings require less proportion of land. This is highly beneficial for the current situation of land scarcity. Additionally, such buildings have more floors compared to the short ones. Due to this, more individuals are able to accommodate in such places. For example, a recent study suggests that cities with tall buildings are more livable because this single strategy saves land, offers housing to maximum people.
Another vital reason is that such buildings reduce the cost of the construction of more buildings unnecessarily. More agricultural lands are left that can be utilized. For instance, a study held in Dubai shows that the high rising infrastructurs allowed them to do agricultural activities without any issue.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| 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 159 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the supporting arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient detail or depth. The examples provided, such as the reference to Dubai, are vague and do not fully illustrate the points made. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more specific explanations, real-world examples, and a more thorough exploration of the implications of your position to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more comprehensive response to the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Additionally', and 'Another vital reason' to transition between ideas. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat limited due to the brevity of the response. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels mechanical. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the logical flow between sentences is more sophisticated and less reliant on simple list-like transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some appropriate terms like 'land scarcity' and 'infrastructure', but there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'high rising apartment blocks' (should be 'high-rise') and 'save a large amount of land consumption' (which is logically imprecise). The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the flexibility needed to express complex ideas. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise academic vocabulary to convey your points more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'more individuals are able to accommodate in such places' (should be 'be accommodated') and 'the cost of the construction of more buildings unnecessarily'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the range of complex structures is limited. To improve, work on using a wider variety of grammatical forms, such as passive voice or conditional sentences, and pay closer attention to verb patterns and word order to reduce the frequency of errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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