Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 7.0)

It is widely believed that one of the best ways for governments to provide enough housing in big cities is to construct high-rise apartment blocks.

According to recent trends, the demand for housing in cities has increased because of the growth in urban populations, which makes providing adequate accommodation a challenging issue. Therefore, many people have found a solution in constructing tall apartment blocks in order to satisfy the population's needs. I strongly agree with this solution because, due to the overcrowding of cities, available land for construction has become scarce. Instead of using land horizontally, a more suitable solution is to build vertically, which is more space-efficient and does not require acquiring large amounts of additional land.

Building apartment blocks can also help governments save money because several buildings can be constructed on the same piece of land. This allows governments to use their financial resources to provide housing for a larger number of people.

Furthermore, apartment blocks can help reduce energy and water consumption because residents can share the same infrastructure and utilities. They can also improve social interaction by allowing people to live in close proximity to one another and share common facilities.

Apartment blocks may also have social benefits. For example, they could potentially reduce certain types of crime because buildings are located close to one another, making it more difficult for criminals to act without being noticed.

In conclusion, I believe that constructing high-rise apartment blocks is an effective solution to housing shortages in cities. Firstly, it allows governments to make better use of limited land, and secondly, it can reduce infrastructure costs and encourage greater social interaction.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in favor of high-rise apartment blocks. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on land scarcity and infrastructure efficiency. The argument is well-developed throughout the essay, with each paragraph contributing to the central thesis. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific real-world examples or counter-arguments to demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of the topic, as the current support is somewhat generalized.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between points is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is consistent throughout the response. The structure is coherent, and the logical progression is maintained from the introduction to the final summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'urban populations', 'infrastructure', 'financial resources', and 'space-efficient'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Instead of using land horizontally, a more suitable solution is to build vertically'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. While the range of structures is solid, it does not consistently display the high level of flexibility or complexity required for the highest bands. However, the errors are rare and do not impede communication in any way.

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

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