Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

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 5.0)

A structure of tall blocks of building is considered a significant way to produce enough area for homes in big cities. Although this reason is particularly supported by the fact that more space can be created in urban areas, I believe that other relevant choices will surpass this expectation.

One way to state this is to construct tall blocks of apartments in order to save more space in the cities for future development, such as houses for citizens. As more people began to live in urban areas, most of them don't have houses to stay in due to the limited number of rental places. To solve this matter, those places can be shaped into tall buildings like apartments to provide more rooms for outsiders. For instance, a student who plans to study abroad may not have a school or university dorm to stay in; by means of this, they can rent a small room in an apartment instead of renting a whole house, which is much more expensive in the long run.

Further discussion says that taller and more construction buildings can cause environmental problems despite the advantages. Those sizes and shapes are beneficial

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of your ideas. While you introduce a position, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence in the second body paragraph. Because the response is unfinished, the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full introduction, two well-developed body paragraphs with supporting evidence, and a clear conclusion. The current lack of length prevents you from fully exploring the arguments for or against tall apartment blocks, resulting in a low score for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization, using transition signals like 'One way to state this' and 'For instance'. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to evaluate the overall progression of the argument. Paragraphing is present, but the second paragraph is incomplete, which disrupts the flow of ideas. To reach a higher band, you need to ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that ideas are linked smoothly throughout the entire essay, including a concluding paragraph that summarizes your main points.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'big cities' and 'produce enough area' are somewhat simplistic. You attempt to use some topic-related vocabulary such as 'urban areas' and 'development', but the range is limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms to express your ideas more clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, such as 'Although this reason is particularly supported by...'. However, there are noticeable errors in grammar and word order, such as 'A structure of tall blocks of building' and 'taller and more construction buildings'. These errors occasionally make the text slightly awkward, though they do not fully impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of adjectives and nouns. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures will also help improve your score.

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

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