Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

These days large cities are getting densely populated, making accommodation a major issue for the people. The people who are already living in the large cities might not consider this as a problem. However, for the people shifting to larger cities for various reasons find it as one of the main problems. One of the solution to this problem is to build tall apartment blocks.

Many people consider this the only solution to the problem and I agree with them. Large cities even though have enough space for many people but still now due to the dense population it has become a constrain. Houses takes up a lot of space which might be used for other actives and needs which helps people for example schools, hospitals, and work places. If tall apartments are build it would help many people to accommodate at a single place which in fact is more cost friendly than building a house and better for people especially coming to seek more and new opportunities form different small cities. Yes it is true that a house can carry more members of a family, but the apartments build in these days do not even have constrain in how many people can it accommodate.

On the other hand when houses are being built it creates more opportunities for labour and other related sectors as the houses are build for separate families so more houses are made. Moreover, houses give a sense of authority to its owner in a way as the land belongs to him and a sense of achievement. It also gives a personal space to a family moving or to even an individual.

In conclusion, I think a more practical way of solving the issue of accommodation in larger cities is to make tall apartment building so people get attracted to it and eventually see it as a trend and avoid wasting the land for just their personal use in this case making a house which can be used for the betterment of the society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified the core issue—urban density—and provided arguments for tall apartment blocks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention that apartments are 'cost friendly' and save space for public infrastructure, the counter-argument regarding individual houses is less effectively integrated into your overall stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph directly supports your thesis statement with more specific examples or deeper analysis rather than just stating the benefits. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and could more effectively synthesize the main points discussed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'in this case making a house' in the conclusion, which makes the final sentence difficult to parse. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references would enhance the logical progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning, but there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors. For example, you use 'constrain' as a noun instead of 'constraint', and 'cost friendly' is better expressed as 'cost-effective'. Phrases like 'seeking more and new opportunities form different small cities' are slightly unnatural. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning, the lack of precision prevents a higher score. Focusing on collocations and ensuring you use the correct word form (e.g., noun vs. verb) will help you achieve a more professional and academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Houses takes up', 'apartments build in these days') and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'If tall apartments are build'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are overly long and lack necessary commas, making them difficult to follow. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that passive voice constructions are formed correctly. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will be key to moving up the band scale.

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

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