Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Housing is a basic necessity for every human being. Some people argue that the best approach to providing enough homes in urban cities is to construct tall apartment blocks. I completely agree with this view because such buildings can accommodate a large number of people on limited land and allow the remaining land to be used for other important purposes.

Firstly, building high-rise buildings can accommodate a large number of people in a single building. Since these buildings are constructed vertically, they require less land than individual houses. Moreover, these buildings are very beneficial in large cities, where the availability of land is limited. In addition, the land saved from residential construction can be used for other purposes, such as building public parks, schools and hospitals. These facilities improve the quality of life of city residents by providing them with better access to essential services and recreational spaces. For example, gated communities construct skyscraper buildings, which accommodate a greater number of people and also, they have parks for children's and adults. Hence, constructing skyscraper buildings in urban areas is an effective way to provide sufficient housing.

Furthermore, high-rise buildings can make daily life more convenient for people living in urban areas. When a large number of residents live in the same area, public transport and essential services can be develops close to their homes. As a result, people may have easier access to workplaces, schools and shops, which can reduce commuting time and dependence on private vehicles. On top of that concentrating residents in high-rise buildings can make provision of basic infrastructure more efficient. For instance, water, electricity, sewage systems and waste collection can be provided to a concentrates population more easily than to people living in widely spread individual houses.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that building tall apartment blocks is an effective way to the housing shortage in large cities. They not only allow more people to live in a limited amount of land but also leave space for other facilities and make urban services more convenient and effective.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear and consistent position throughout. The arguments are relevant and well-developed, particularly the points regarding land efficiency and the logistical benefits of high-density living. The essay is well-structured, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct supporting argument. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced counter-arguments or explore potential drawbacks of high-rise living, such as social isolation or maintenance costs, to demonstrate a more balanced and sophisticated critical analysis of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct themes, and the introduction and conclusion are well-defined. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though there are minor instances where the flow could be improved by varying the sentence connectors. Overall, the information is organised coherently, and the reader can easily follow the writer's argument from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'residential construction', 'essential services', and 'infrastructure' appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'can be develops' (should be 'developed') and 'concentrates population' (should be 'concentrated'). While the range is adequate, the essay would benefit from a more sophisticated selection of collocations and less reliance on repetitive phrasing to achieve a higher band score. The meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there is a good attempt at complex sentences, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'children's and adults' (should be 'children and adults') and 'way to the housing shortage' (missing a verb like 'address'). Subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction errors occur occasionally, such as 'can be develops'. Despite these errors, the majority of the sentences are clear, and the mistakes do not cause difficulty for the reader. A wider variety of error-free complex structures would be required for a higher score.

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