Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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 6.0)

Providing adequate housing in densely populated cities has become a significant challenge, and constructing high-rise apartment buildings is often considered an effective solution.

Although I agree that high-rise buildings can accommodate a large number of people in limited areas, I believe that they should be combined with other housing solutions to address the problem effectively.This essay adresses both veiws in detail.

One major advantage of high-rise apartment buildings is that they can accommodate a large number of residents without requiring extensive land.

This is particularly beneficial in densely populated cities, where available land is limited and extremely expensive.

For example, instead of constructing hundreds of individual houses across a large area, a city can provide accommodation for a similar number of people by constructing several high-rise residential buildings.

Consequently, vertical development can be an efficient way of addressing housing shortages while preserving valuable urban land.

High-rise buildings can create problems and aren’t suitable for everyone.

However, relying exclusively on tall apartment blocks may create several problems.

High population density can place considerable pressure on public transport, roads, schools and other essential services.

Therefore, governments should adopt a broader housing strategy that includes high-rise apartments, affordable housing projects and the development of suburban areas.

In conclusion, although high-rise apartment buildings are an efficient way to accommodate growing urban populations, I do not believe they are the only solution. A combination of vertical development and other affordable housing strategies would be more effective in meeting the long-term housing needs of large cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by discussing the benefits and limitations of high-rise buildings. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the advantage of land efficiency is well-supported, the counter-argument regarding infrastructure pressure is quite brief and lacks specific examples or further elaboration. To reach a higher band, ensure that all points are equally developed with sufficient explanation and illustrative examples. The essay is just at the minimum word count, which limits the depth of your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'however', and 'therefore' to link ideas. However, there are some issues with paragraph structure; for instance, the sentence 'High-rise buildings can create problems and aren’t suitable for everyone' appears as a standalone line, which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks could be smoother. Improving the logical connection between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'densely populated', 'vertical development', and 'housing shortages'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'adresses' and 'veiws', which should be corrected to 'addresses' and 'views'. The vocabulary is generally appropriate, but it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' items required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and academic synonyms to express your ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically accurate, which ensures that communication is not impeded. There are some minor punctuation and stylistic choices, such as the use of the contraction 'aren’t', which is generally discouraged in formal academic writing. While you show control over basic grammar, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. Increasing the variety of your sentence patterns, such as using more conditional or passive constructions, would help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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