Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26

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 7.5)

The rapid growth of urban populations has created a serious demand for housing in large cities. Some people believe that the best solution is to construct tall apartment blocks. I largely agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate more people while making efficient use of limited urban land.

The main advantage of building tall apartment blocks is that they can provide housing for a large number of people in a relatively small area. Land in major cities is often expensive and limited, so constructing houses with large gardens is not always practical. By building upwards rather than outwards, governments and developers can accommodate thousands of residents without using excessive amounts of land. For example, cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully used high-rise residential buildings to house large populations.

Another benefit is that high-density housing can reduce urban expansion. When cities spread into surrounding rural areas, agricultural land and natural habitats may be destroyed. In contrast, apartment blocks allow more people to live close to city centres, where public transport, schools, hospitals and workplaces are usually available. This can also reduce commuting distances and traffic congestion.

However, I do not believe that tall buildings should be the only solution. If high-rise apartments are poorly designed or overcrowded, they can create problems such as noise, lack of privacy and insufficient recreational space. Therefore, cities should combine apartment blocks with parks, public facilities and reliable transport systems. In some less densely populated areas, low-rise housing may also be more suitable.

In conclusion, I largely agree that constructing tall apartment blocks is one of the most effective ways to provide sufficient housing in large cities. Nevertheless, this approach should be carefully planned and combined with other types of housing and adequate public facilities to create comfortable and sustainable urban communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You have effectively balanced the benefits of high-rise living, such as land efficiency and reduced urban sprawl, with a nuanced counter-argument regarding the necessity of proper design and infrastructure. The inclusion of specific examples like Singapore and Hong Kong strengthens your position. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a high band score by maintaining a consistent focus on the prompt from introduction to conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices such as 'The main advantage', 'Another benefit', 'In contrast', and 'However'. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The flow of the argument is natural, and the reader is guided clearly through your reasoning without any confusion or mechanical repetition of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'rapid growth of urban populations', 'efficient use of limited urban land', and 'sustainable urban communities' show a strong command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it could be pushed further towards a more sophisticated level to reach the highest band. The word choices are precise and contribute to the clarity of your argument, with no errors in spelling or collocation noted.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('If high-rise apartments are poorly designed...') and relative clauses, with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability. There is a good mix of simple and complex forms, and the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The writing is fluent and professional.

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

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