Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Nowadays, many big cities have a storage of homes because their population are growing quickly. Some people believe building a tall apartment blocks is the best way to solve the problem. I agree with this idea because high-rise buildings can provide many homes, but i do not think they are the only solution.
One reason, why I agree with building tall apartment is that they save more space. Land in the large cities is usually very expensive, so it is not easy to build houses everywhere. When buildings are constructed upwards, many people can live in the same area. Another reason is that these apartments can be build close to public transportation, shops and schools. This make can life easier for residents because they do not have to travel far for their daily needs.
However, there is also some disadvantages. If there are too many tall buildings are build in one area, it can become crowded. They may be more traffic in cities because of public transport, schools, and hospitals. Also, people living in the apartments usually have a less outdoor space than people are living in the houses.
In conclusion, I agree with that tall apartments are one of the best way to provide house in large cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 you clearly state your position, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, you mention that tall buildings save space and are near amenities, but these points lack specific examples or deeper analysis. The conclusion is also quite brief. To improve, you must expand on your main points with concrete examples or logical consequences to reach the required length and provide a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'One reason', 'Another reason', and 'However' to transition between ideas. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. Some sentences, such as 'This make can life easier', are disjointed due to grammatical errors, which affects the flow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'big cities', 'many homes', and 'good way'. There are also some word choice errors, such as 'storage of homes' instead of 'shortage of housing'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning and infrastructure, and work on using collocations more accurately to express your ideas with greater precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'building a tall apartment blocks' (article/pluralization error), 'can be build' (passive voice error), and 'people are living in the houses' (incorrect verb form). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'population are growing'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.