Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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 , many large cities have a shortage of homes because the population is increasing. Some people believe that building tall apartment blocks is the best solution . I partly agree with this statement because save space ,but also some disadvantage .

The strongest reason supporting my opinion is that , tall building can provide homes for many people small area . This is very useful in crowded cities where land is so expensive and limited . For example , one tall building apartment can provide homes for many families .As a result , more people live in cities without using amount of land .

However , tall apartment blocks can create problems . These building can make cities very crowded and may increase traffic jam and pollution . People living in tall building may have less outdoor spaces .For example , families and children may need parks and playground but there may not be open area near tall building .

In conclusion, I partly agree with this statement because tall apartment blocks are a good way to solve housing problem. However , tall apartment blocks can create some problems such as traffic jam and pollution .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 197 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack sufficient supporting evidence or depth. While you have addressed the prompt by expressing a partial agreement, the lack of length prevents a full exploration of the topic. To improve, you must expand your body paragraphs with more detailed examples and nuanced explanations. The conclusion is also quite brief and merely restates the introduction rather than synthesising the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For instance, you rely heavily on 'For example' and 'However' to transition between ideas. The progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of depth makes the overall flow feel disjointed. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and paragraphs more fluidly, ensuring that the relationship between ideas is clearly signposted.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive terms such as 'tall building' and 'homes'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. Furthermore, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'using amount of land' instead of 'using large amounts of land'. To improve, focus on incorporating more academic vocabulary related to urban planning and housing, and work on using collocations more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is often missing) and pluralisation ('tall building' instead of 'tall buildings'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces appearing before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and proofreading for basic punctuation rules to ensure your writing is more polished and accurate.

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

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