Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

There is a growing debate on whether the best solution to accommodate enough homes in big cities is by building tall apartment complexes. This essay agrees with this statement because they require limited space and provide convenience.

With the increasing number of citizens, large cities are facing a shortage of land area. Tall buildings are becoming increasingly common since they only require limited space to be built and can hold more houses and work spaces. This allows more area to be used for other purposes like parks, community centers, restaurants and museums .It also prevents the city from resembling a concrete jungle. For example, Shanghai has resorted to constructing tall, modern apartments to lodge the growing population, which also adds to the scenic landscape and beauty of the city.

Additionally, they provide greater convenience. Nowadays, apartment complexes sit close to prime locations like schools, public transport and work which saves ample of travel time. Furthermore, the maintenance committee handles the plumbing, repairing and cleanliness, removing additional responsibilities from peoples shoulders. Residents can also get easy access to gyms, community centers, parks and pools without having to pay an extra fee. The close neighborhood also creates a sense of social cohesion, allowing people to make friends and spend time together.

In conclusion, I believe that building apartments blocks is the best way to provide enough homes because they only require limited space to be built, since they grow vertically and also prove to be a greater source of convenience for the residents.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.5
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the reference to Shanghai and the benefits of shared amenities. While the arguments are logical, they could be further developed to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on 'convenience' is somewhat general; exploring potential drawbacks or counter-arguments would have added more depth and nuance to the response. Overall, the essay is well-focused and directly answers the question regarding the suitability of tall apartment blocks as a solution for urban housing shortages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. However, the transition between the idea of land usage and the specific example of Shanghai could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could benefit from more varied cohesive links to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the second body paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'accommodate', 'concrete jungle', and 'social cohesion'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor issues with collocation and phrasing, such as 'ample of travel time' (should be 'ample travel time') and 'peoples shoulders' (missing apostrophe). To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items and ensure precise word choice throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and the meaning is never obscured by errors. However, there are some punctuation and grammatical slips, such as the missing space before 'It' in the second paragraph and the possessive error 'peoples'. While the writer uses complex sentences, the variety is somewhat restricted. To improve, the student should focus on eliminating minor mechanical errors and incorporating a wider range of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional clauses or more varied passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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