Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The best way to get enough homes in big cities is to build tall apartment blocks.
In big cities there are huge populations; if we build tall apartment blocks, we reduce the land consumption. For example, if we build a tall apartment building, many families will live there.
The advantage of the apartment blocks is that many families live together and also there is low consumption of land and low cost of constructions also most of the people live on rent also prefer the apartment, small families also want the aparments also students which move for study also need the apartment.
Some disadvantages of the apartment are parking issues and fire in one apartment, which also destroyed the whole building. Water supply and electricity are some of the biggest problems of the apartments; also, the seepage problem can be faced in the apartments.
Building the apartment is also a trend in modern times; many of the people like that in many countries live in apartments.
According to my opinion, it is good to build the apartment in cities. Which causes the low land consumption and low construction cost. People live togeather and need people
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 194 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack sufficient supporting evidence or examples. While you have identified both advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks, the discussion is underdeveloped. To improve, you must expand on your points with detailed explanations and concrete examples to ensure the topic is fully addressed. The position is clear, but the lack of depth and the failure to meet the length requirement prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. Many sentences are disjointed, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and often repetitive (e.g., 'also' is used excessively to connect ideas). There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to show contrast or consequence effectively. The final paragraph is particularly fragmented and ends abruptly, which disrupts the flow of the argument. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of transition signals and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects logically to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'big', 'good', and 'apartment'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or collocations. Phrases such as 'low cost of constructions' and 'seepage problem can be faced' show limited control over word choice and collocation. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to urban planning and housing, and work on using words in their correct context to express ideas more fluently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('the apartment'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'also students which move for study also need the apartment'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with run-on sentences and misused commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex structures and the frequency of errors limit the score. You should practice combining simple sentences into complex ones using subordinating conjunctions and focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy.
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.