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)
In this fast-paced world, there has been a continuous rise in the population whereas the amount of land still remains the very same. The solution for this problem seems to construct building of numerous floors for accommodation. I partially agree with this idea of taking such measures. This essay will further explain both the views and provide relevant examples.
It can be noticed that especially in urban areas, the streets keep on buzzing with people all around. Which indicate the over population of people situated there. Consequently, not enough land is available in order to have an individual property. Furthermore, due to such demand, the value of plots move upwards, resulting in less people to afford such land. Therefore, having flats built seems to be an optimal solution. For instance, in Mumbai, because of such over habitation, flats are given much preference.
On the other hand, this vision strips off the privacy that one gets by living in houses such as villa, bungalow etc. One does not have to deal with neighbours who share the same wall for petty reasons such as noise, smell etc. It also aids one to engage with nature from the land that is available around the house which can be used for plantation. Also, one does not need to reason with anybody as he can do what he wishes to do on his land. To site an example, the infrastructure of the houses can taken in your own hands rather than going with what is already built.
In conclusion, it can be seen having to live in tall apartments in large cities tend to have advantages as well as disadvantages. But at the end of the day, it majorly depends on the citizens and their needs along with provisions to live in such way.
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 both the advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks. You have a clear position, although the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention privacy and nature as drawbacks, these points could be expanded with more specific reasoning or real-world consequences. The introduction is a bit generic, and the conclusion is slightly vague regarding your final stance. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a deeper analysis of the 'why' and 'how' behind your arguments, rather than just listing them. Overall, the task is addressed, but the depth of argument is consistent with a mid-range band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed, such as the sentence fragment 'Which indicate the over population of people situated there.' Improving the use of referencing and ensuring that every sentence connects smoothly to the previous one will help elevate your score. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall readability of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fast-paced', 'accommodation', and 'infrastructure'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the value of plots move upwards' (should be 'rise' or 'increase') and 'to site an example' (should be 'cite'). Additionally, phrases like 'strips off the privacy' are slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate. You have a sufficient vocabulary to communicate your ideas, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'the amount of land still remains the very same' (redundant), 'less people to afford' (should be 'fewer'), and 'can taken in your own hands' (missing auxiliary verb 'be'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some issues with sentence boundaries, particularly the fragment mentioned in the coherence section. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice constructions. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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