Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10
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 7.5)
Nowadays, housin' shortage in major cities has become a pressing issue. Some people believe that building high-rise apartment blocks is the most effective solution to tackle this problem. While I agree that tall buildings offer significant advantages in accommodating urban populations, I believe it is not the only or best solution on its own.
On the one hand, constructing tall apartment buildings brings several clear benefits for overcrowded cities. The most obvious advantage is space efficiency. Because land in big cities is very limited and expensive, building upwards allows local authorities to create hundreds of homes on a small plot of land. For example, cities like Singapore and Tokyo have successfully used high-density residential towers to provide affordable housing for millions of residents. Furthermore, living in apartments often allows people to stay closer to the city center, which reduces their commute time and gives easy access to public transport, shops, and workplaces.
On the other hand, relying solely on high-rise apartments has several drawbacks, so other methods should also be considered. Firstly, tall buildings require high construction and maintenance costs, which can make flats expensive to buy or rent for low-income families. Secondly, living in high-rise buildings can lead to social issues, such as a lack of community feel and reduced green spaces, which negatively affect residents' mental health. Therefore, governments should also explore alternative strategies, such as developing suburban infrastructure and improving public transport networks. This would encourage people to move to outer areas where housing is more spacious and affordable.
In conclusion, although building tall apartment blocks is a practical way to deal with urban housing shortages, I do not agree that it is the single best approach. A combinaton of high-density housing and urban sprawl management through better transportation into suburban areas would be a more balanced solution.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that acknowledges the benefits of high-rise buildings while arguing that they are not the sole solution. The ideas are well-developed, with specific examples like Singapore and Tokyo provided to support the argument for space efficiency. The counter-arguments regarding cost and social impact are also relevant and logically extended. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the points made, maintaining a clear and consistent stance throughout the essay. The response is well-structured and directly answers the 'to what extent' component of the question.
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 benefits and drawbacks is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Therefore'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different aspects of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, making the text easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the argument well.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for an academic task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'urban populations', 'space efficiency', 'high-density residential towers', and 'urban sprawl management'. While there is a minor informal slip at the beginning ('housin''), the rest of the text maintains a formal tone. The student demonstrates an ability to use less common lexical items with precision. The word choice is generally accurate and contributes to the clarity of the argument, showing a good level of flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a good range of complex structures, such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'While I agree that...', 'Although building tall...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of the sentences. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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