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, in the majority of urban areas, finding homes has become more difficult, and to build tall tower blocks is the best solution. I personally agree with the statement, and i will explain further in the coming paragraphs.
recently, in all major big cities, people are struggling to find accommodation, either the purpose is renting or owning. While in some cities, you still can find a home, but maybe the price is too high which led to negative consequences. For example, Hongkong population is huge, and despite the tall buildings, finding a home is becoming more and more financially competitive, that from affording a large apartment or a studio, to barely affording a partition, which destroys privacy.
On the other hand, the families sizes has decreased compared to before, despite that, they still prefer living in a house over an apartment which is a waste of space. As a result, some other families will end up homeless. I personally agree that more towers should be built in cities, and government should run more awareness campaigns, transforming houses to towers that accommodate 30 families instead of one.
as a conclusion, population is gradually grownin
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 193 words. This significant under-length results in an incomplete response, as the conclusion is cut off mid-sentence. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the point about Hong Kong is relevant but lacks sufficient depth to fully explore the complexities of the issue. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and examples, and ensure you complete the essay structure, including a full conclusion that synthesizes your main points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows some logical organization, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and an attempt at a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'As a result', but the overall flow is somewhat mechanical. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is unfinished, which disrupts the coherence of the piece. To improve, focus on developing each paragraph fully and using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'urban areas', 'accommodation', and 'financially competitive', but there is also some repetition and basic phrasing. There are minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'grownin' (incomplete) and 'families sizes' (should be 'family sizes'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to urban planning and housing, and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'either the purpose is renting or owning' (awkward phrasing), 'Hongkong population is huge' (missing article), and 'government should run' (missing article). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall quality. Focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and consistent capitalization to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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