Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

It is often argued that the best way to provide more number houses to people in urban areas is to build heighted buildings. I partially agreed to this statement this statement. My position is elaborated further with reasons and examples.

There are several advantages Firstly, this will provide shelter to large amount of population in less space this is because in urban area there is shortage of land as most of them are occupied by industries malls and companies. secondly it will also be beneficial for environment this is because no need to make more number of apartment and empty land can be useful as a park or remain as a forest. For example in Mumbai even after large population they all have shelter because of this construction method.

Furthermore this will also be helpful for transportation this is because if this tall apartment are build near railway stations or bus stations than people will easily reach to their within the walking distance. This will be beneficial for them as they will save their transportation cost and mainly their time. for example In Singapore apartments are build near such stations this save a lots of money and time.

On the other hand building tall apartments can not be the only solution there are certain more factors such as parking issue. In this modern era every individual will have their transportation and if there is no parking available for each of them it will create an issue. Another issue can be disturbance if so many people will live an single apartment this can lead to frustration and unnecessary fights can take place. For instance in India many cities looks more congested.

In conclusion I partially agree to this statement as to build tall apartments would be beneficial but there are several drawback if both are balanced then this is a great construction method.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about environmental benefits is mentioned but not fully explained, and the example of Mumbai is brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed reasoning or specific evidence. While the task is addressed, the depth of analysis is inconsistent, which is characteristic of a band 6 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, there are issues with punctuation and sentence structure that occasionally disrupt the flow of ideas, such as the run-on sentences in the second paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are clearly separated by appropriate punctuation would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'urban areas', 'construction method', and 'congested'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choices and inaccuracies, such as 'number houses' instead of 'housing', 'heighted buildings' instead of 'high-rise buildings', and 'make more number of apartment'. These errors indicate a limited range of vocabulary and some difficulty with collocation. To improve, focus on learning common word pairings and using more precise academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, they are frequently marred by grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement, articles, and pluralization (e.g., 'if so many people will live an single apartment'). Punctuation is also a significant issue; many sentences are run-on or lack necessary commas, which makes the text harder to read. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips.

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

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