Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11
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)
A number of indivisual hold a believe that the most effective method of providing accommodation in big cities is to construct skyscrapers. I agree with the statement as it can provide enough housing in the most economical way.
First of all, accommodation is one of the biggest problem for the citizens of big cities due to fewer options available and high prices. Building high apartment block will cater the problem effectively as many apartment are lower in price than the full houses. They optimize the landspace by buidling horizontally than expanding vertically hence accomodate large people insetead of growing into more natural lands and farms. Moreover, apartment comes with the alocated car park area, small garden, gym and many other such facilities for the residents which is a plus point.
Secondly, skyscrappers act as a symbol of modern progress and tourisim. Investing in constructing large building not just accomodate large people but it also attract tourisim and generate economy for the country. Take for instance New york, one of the biggest city in the world is known for its skyscrappers. Furthermore, huge buildings provide better lighting, air and environment for the residnets on top floors.
In conclusion, tall apartments provide many advantages and is the best way of housing in big cities where large people come for jobs and earning. By building skyscrapper it not just provide housing but it will also adds up in the beauty of the city, provide better views and facilities to the residents in cost effective.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. The ideas are relevant, such as land optimization and economic benefits. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For example, the claim that skyscrapers provide 'better lighting, air and environment' is a generalization that lacks nuance, as high-density living can often lead to issues with natural light or ventilation depending on design. While the main points are clear, they could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The response is consistent in its stance throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'First of all', 'Moreover', and 'Secondly', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'building horizontally than expanding vertically' (which is logically contradictory). Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother to achieve a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors, such as 'indivisual', 'buidling', 'accomodate', 'skyscrapper', and 'tourisim'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the message. The range of vocabulary is limited to common terms, and there is a lack of sophisticated or idiomatic language. To improve, you should focus on accurate spelling and incorporating more precise academic collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'apartment comes', 'skyscrapper... it not just provide') and incorrect word forms (e.g., 'large people' instead of 'a large number of people'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and pluralization would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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