Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

With increasing population rapidly building home is a challenge.Some people argue that constructing tall apartments blocks is the best way to provide enough homes.I largely agree with this notion because high rise buildings make efficient use of limited land, although their should be combined with other forms of housing.

commencing with most prominent advantage of tall buildings is that they can accommodate a large number of people within a relatively small area.Land in major cities usually expensive and limited, so constructing vertically allows governments and developers to provide more homes without continually expanding cities in to surrounding rural areas.For example, a single residential skyscraper contain hundreds of apartments on a small plot of land.This can also reduce urban sprawl and preserve agriculture land and areas outside cities.Furthermore, high rise developments can be planned close to essential facilities and public transportation.If large number of people live in same area, governments can provide services such as metro stations, schools, shops and healthcare facilities more efficiently.This may encourage residents to use public transport rather than private cars, thereby reducing traffic congestion and pollution.Therefore, apartments blocks can be particularly suitable for densely populated cities where space is at a premium.

However, relying exclusively on tall buildings can create several problems.Excessive population density may place considerable pressure on roads, public transport, water supplies and other public services.In addition, poorly designed high rise neighbourhoods may lack parks and recreational areas, which can negatively affect residents' quality of life.

In conclusion, I agree that building tall apartment blocks is one of the most effective ways to overcome housing shortages in large cities because it makes efficient use of land and supports better urban planning. Nevertheless, it should be part of a broader housing strategy that includes different types of accommodation and adequate public infrastructure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that tall buildings are an effective solution while acknowledging the need for a balanced urban strategy. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding land efficiency and the proximity to public services. The counter-argument regarding infrastructure pressure and quality of life is also relevant and adds depth to the discussion. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific real-world examples of cities that have successfully implemented high-rise housing to further strengthen the support for your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'commencing with', 'furthermore', 'therefore', and 'nevertheless' to link your points effectively. However, there are minor issues with punctuation and sentence structure that occasionally affect the flow, such as the missing comma after introductory phrases. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the referencing is generally clear, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'urban sprawl', 'densely populated', and 'at a premium' are used correctly and show good awareness of collocation. There are some minor errors, such as 'their should be combined' (should be 'they should') and 'agriculture land' (should be 'agricultural land'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated or less common lexical items would help elevate the score. The current range is functional and allows for clear communication of your ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you show good control over complex sentences, there are persistent minor errors throughout the text. Examples include 'rapidly building home is a challenge' (should be 'building homes'), 'their should be' (should be 'they should'), and 'a single residential skyscraper contain' (should be 'contains'). Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'commencing with most prominent advantage' (should be 'the most prominent'). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is generally accurate enough to support your arguments.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.