Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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)

In vast cities , the optimal way to supply enough residence for people is to erect towering apartments. I concur with this idea and in this essay, I will point out my view point and give my humble conclusion.

I totally agree with the assertion that elevated buildings are the best way to provide a dwelling place for people living in massive cities. Because there are a lot of individuals in living in the city, there is always a need for an abode and because of the scarcity of land, it is wise to build towering constructions with more apartment blocks. The cost of buying landed properties in major cities is very expensive, and when you buy the property for a commercial purpose, constructing a tall apartment building gives more room to make even more money and provide residence for a reasonable number of people living in that city. For instance, when my father wanted to build a commercial building in Lagos Nigeria , it was really expensive and difficult to purchase a property in the city, and there was constant need for a home in Lagos. when he got the property, he erected a substantial 40 story building with 80 apartment blocks housing over 120 people.

In conclusion, housing is a global problem in the society, with the limitations in acquire land in vast cities, it is best to build tall buildings to give individuals living in this huge cities a home and also be part of the solution to global problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. However, the development is limited. While you provide a personal example regarding a building in Lagos, the essay lacks a broader discussion of the potential drawbacks or alternative solutions, which is necessary for a more balanced and fully developed argument. The ideas are relevant but remain somewhat superficial, focusing primarily on the economic gain for the owner rather than the urban planning or social implications of high-density living. To reach a higher band, you should explore the topic from multiple perspectives and provide more detailed analysis of why this is the 'best' way compared to other urban development strategies.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into three paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion. While there is a logical flow, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic cohesive devices like 'For instance' and 'In conclusion', but the transition between sentences within the body paragraph could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the paragraphing is insufficient; a standard IELTS essay should ideally have at least two distinct body paragraphs to separate different supporting points. The current structure makes the argument feel rushed and underdeveloped.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some appropriate terms like 'scarcity of land' and 'commercial purpose', but there is also a reliance on simpler or repetitive language, such as 'massive cities' and 'huge cities'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'limitations in acquire land' (should be 'limitations in acquiring land') and 'provide residence' (should be 'provide housing' or 'accommodate residents'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated academic vocabulary related to urban development and avoid repeating the same adjectives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'individuals in living in the city' (redundant 'in'), 'landed properties' (often just 'land' or 'property' is sufficient), and 'global problem in the society' (redundant). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and capitalization after periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of prepositions.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.