Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22
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 claimed by people that the good way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks. This essay will compare contrast the opinion along the viewpoint that will be elucidated subsequently.
Initiating with the points supporting the first school of thought, Primarily, tall buildings can provide homes for many people while using less land. To elaborate my stance, a survey was conducted by the ministry of the united kingdom stating that 72.3 percent masses deem that the above statement is true due to the given reason.
On the contrary, people who hold another viewpoint say that too many tall buildings can make cities crowded and noisy. They believe that, nowadays masses are well aware of because of the changes that are happening in the current developing society, In fact, to exemplify, a renowned scientist named , Takashi Kovacs who is also a professor in Bristol university has confirmed the opinion in his recent research.
To conclude my viewpoint, I would firmly like to opine that is completely true. However, it depends on the mindset of the people ,which view they are in favor of.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay attempts to address the prompt, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient depth. The position is stated but remains vague, and the supporting evidence—such as the reference to a 'ministry of the united kingdom' and a specific scientist—is presented without clear context or logical integration. To improve, you must expand your arguments with detailed explanations and relevant examples, ensuring you meet the length requirement to allow for a full exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initiating with' and 'On the contrary', they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. The introduction is somewhat confusing, and the conclusion does not clearly summarize the main points or restate the position effectively. The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the development of your argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, focused topic sentence will help improve the overall structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'good way' and 'masses' are used in ways that do not always fit the academic context. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'compare contrast the opinion' and 'elucidated subsequently', which feel forced or misused. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary, including less common lexical items, and focus on using them accurately in the correct collocations. Avoid overusing generic terms and try to express your ideas with more precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('the ministry of the united kingdom'), punctuation, and sentence fragments. For example, the sentence 'They believe that, nowadays masses are well aware of because of the changes...' is grammatically flawed and lacks clarity. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors occur frequently enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and punctuation will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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