Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-30

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)

As the population of major cities continues to grow, providing sufficient housing has become an important challenge. Some people believe that constructing tall apartment buildings is the best solution. I largely agree with the view because high-rise housing can accommodate more people while using limited urban land efficiently, although it should not be the only approach.

The main advantage of building tall apartment blocks is that they allow cities to house a large number of people in relatively small areas. Land in major cities is often expensive and limited, so constructing horizontally can lead to urban sprawl and loss agriculture and green areas. In contrast, large building make the best use of available land by providing hundreds of home on a single plot. For instance, densely populated cities such as Singapore have successfully developed high-rise residential areas while maintaining considerable space for parks and public facilities.

Another benefit is that apartments complexes can be planned alongside essential infrastructure. Large residential developments can include parking areas, schools, shops , making everyday life more convenient for residents.

However, I do not believe that building tall blocks should be considered the only solution. Extremely high population density can create problems such as overcrowding, pressure on public services and lack of privacy. Some families also prefer houses with gardens, particularly in suburban areas. Therefore, governments should adopt a balanced housing projects and carefully planned suburban developments.

In conclusion, I strongly support the construction of tall apartment blocks as one of the most effective ways to address housing shortages in large cities. Nevertheless, combining high-rise development with other forms of well-planned housing would create more sustainable and comfortable urban environments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have clearly addressed the prompt by taking a nuanced position, agreeing that high-rise buildings are a primary solution while acknowledging the need for a balanced approach. Your ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the example of Singapore, which adds credibility to your argument. The response is well-developed, with distinct advantages and disadvantages discussed. To reach a higher band, ensure that your counter-arguments are integrated more seamlessly into the overall flow, and perhaps expand slightly on the 'balanced housing projects' mentioned in the conclusion to provide a more comprehensive solution.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast,' 'Another benefit,' and 'Nevertheless,' to guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the third paragraph, the list 'parking areas, schools, shops' could be improved by adding a cohesive connector like 'and other essential amenities' to ensure the sentence structure remains smooth and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'urban sprawl,' 'densely populated,' and 'essential infrastructure' are used correctly and appropriately for the academic context. There are minor errors, such as 'loss agriculture' (should be 'loss of agricultural land') and 'apartments complexes' (should be 'apartment complexes'). While these do not impede communication, correcting these small collocation and grammatical errors would elevate your score. You have a good grasp of topic-specific terminology, which helps maintain a formal tone throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy reading. However, there are a few minor slips, such as 'large building make' (should be 'large buildings make') and 'hundreds of home' (should be 'hundreds of homes'). Additionally, the phrase 'adopt a balanced housing projects' contains a minor article/pluralization error. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, your control over complex structures is generally good, and your punctuation is mostly accurate, contributing to a professional and coherent piece of writing.

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.