Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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)

The issue of whether tall apartment blocks should be built in large cities has sparked considerable debate. Personally, I firmly agree with the view that constructing tall buildings in large cities is important because they can provide accommodation for a large population. This essay will discuss the reasons for my agreement, supported by relevant examples and evidence.

One of the primary reasons why I agree is that constructing tall buildings provides accommodation for a large population. This is because a large number of people live in large cities. As a result, this necessitates vast amounts of land for residential development. For instance, many residents are forced into informal settlements or slums, which creates many problems for them. Therefore, it is evident that constructing tall buildings is important for a large population.

Another compelling reason for my agreement is that constructing tall buildings can save land. This happens because vertical construction preserves significant ground space. A notable example is that recently, many people have been suffering from a lack of shelter, while many industrial buildings are being constructed. There is no space left for poor people to build houses. Hence, this clearly demonstrates that tall apartments are constructed to save land.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that constructing tall buildings is important for a large population and can also help address the shortage of land. Furthermore, high-density living optimizes land use while increasing housing capacity. Moving forward, it is crucial to build tall buildings in large cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the response is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat repetitive; for example, both body paragraphs focus heavily on the same point regarding land usage and population density. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the counter-arguments or explore other dimensions, such as the social impact of high-rise living or infrastructure requirements. Because the response is under the word count, it fails to fully develop the ideas to the extent required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'One of the primary reasons' and 'Another compelling reason'. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the overall structure feels a bit formulaic, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. You rely on basic terms such as 'important', 'large', and 'problems' repeatedly. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'vertical construction', 'high-density living', and 'residential development', but these are not consistently used. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning but does not show the flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, there is a lack of variety in sentence construction. Many sentences follow a similar subject-verb-object pattern. There are very few grammatical errors, which is a strength, but the range of structures is limited. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater control and flexibility.

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

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