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)

Nowadays, the growing number of population in the large cities forced the authorities to build tall aparment blocks. I totally agree with this,development for several reasons.

Firstly, saving long surfaces of the cities by this type of buildings is the most advantage of this idea. In other words, it will save space to build another public spaces and facilities such as gardens, shops, schools and restaurants. In my city for example, more than a million citizens live in tall buildings and they have no problem at all.

Furthermore, the costs of renting will decline and everyone will be able to pay the rent without any delay. We can take a simple rule as and example, enough buildings means less money spent on renting. A study in one of the Algerian cities showed that living in blocks costs around 10000 dinars monthly, on the other side the rents in individual apartments are around 40000 dinars. Another advantage is lowering the proportion of homeless individuals. Besides, living all together in blocks have moral values, people will help eachother, solving neighboorhood dilemmas together and making good relations between them. In my hometown for example people who live in apartment blocks tend to face less problems than those who live in their own properties.

In conclusion, there is no easy answer for this topic, however on balance, I tend to believe that this idea is the best solution for the overcrowded cities so far due to the numerous advantages it gives for its citizens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding space efficiency and cost-effectiveness are relevant and supported by examples. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial; for instance, the claim about 'moral values' and 'good relations' in apartment blocks is asserted rather than logically explained or substantiated. While the response meets the minimum length requirement, the depth of analysis is limited, which prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, you should focus on expanding your reasoning with more nuanced explanations rather than relying on brief, anecdotal assertions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is occasionally mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the phrase 'We can take a simple rule as and example'. Additionally, some transitions between sentences within paragraphs are abrupt. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring that your sentences flow more naturally into one another would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'overcrowded cities' and 'public spaces'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'long surfaces' (likely meaning 'land area') and 'neighboorhood dilemmas'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing, such as the frequent use of 'advantages'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with articles ('the growing number of population'), subject-verb agreement ('living all together... have'), and punctuation. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'I totally agree with this,development'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic errors and practicing more complex sentence constructions would be beneficial.

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

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