Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16
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)
Nowadays making a tall building in the big cities is very common. Some people think making a large building can reduce the home crisis in the big cities. While others think that making a small house in the big cities is more coinvent. In this essay, I will discuss about this topic and will provide my own knowledge and experience.
On the first hand, making a tall house in the big cities is good for saving the space because in the big cities it is really hard to find the space. If the builders make big houses so they can save some space for other facilities and can make something else. Secondly, in a small space more people can live. For example, In the Sydney CBD there is shortage of space so they make tall building for offices so they can save some space.
On the other hand, making a tall building some time does not coinvent for old people because they are not familiar with technology and in the tall building if people need to go anywhere, they have to use the lift which is big disadvantages for some people even in the big building there is not much privacy. Some people like to live in the open areas when they move to unit they cannot adjust in the blocks.
In my opinion, houses are more comfortable as compared to tall building.
In conclusion, tall houses are good in the busy area but there are some disadvantages of this to live in the apartment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 discussing the advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention space-saving and privacy concerns, the arguments lack depth and specific supporting evidence. For instance, the example of Sydney CBD is mentioned but not fully explained in relation to the prompt's focus on 'homes'. The position is somewhat inconsistent; you state that tall buildings are good for busy areas but conclude that houses are more comfortable, without clearly reconciling these views. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear, well-developed main idea supported by detailed reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the first hand', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion'. However, some of these are used incorrectly (e.g., 'On the first hand' should be 'On the one hand'). The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the transition between the benefits of tall buildings and the drawbacks. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, and the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'making a tall building' and 'big cities'. There are also several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'coinvent' (convenient) and 'unit' (units). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more academic vocabulary and collocations related to urban planning and housing, while ensuring that words are used in their correct context and spelled accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with articles ('the Sydney CBD'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence construction (e.g., 'If the builders make big houses so they can save...'). While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are noticeable and occur regularly. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms to ensure greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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