Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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 6.5)

In recent years, changes in the field of urban planning and architecture are very evident, which are contributing to improve living conditions and address the environmental concerns. As a result, construction plans are now designed with tall skyscrapers, replacing the previous versions where the row houses and large residential area.

This shift in idea and and design have several benefits, as it allows to add more apartment blocks and it uses smaller area compared to large residential area. Furthermore, building more skyscrapers helps to utilize the space, due to smaller area that it occupies, leaving more room of other facilities to be built such as, community gardens, play areas, green spaces inside the cities, etc. This allows the urban planning to be more effective, efficient and with access to vast range of facilities and staying connected nature and green spaces at the same time.

Moreover, this kind of urban planning helps to utilize smaller spaces effectively, which ensures the forest and the natural green spaces are not getting replaced for the expansion of cities and create more residential area. Additionally, this approach ensures to preserve the natural habitat and wildlife and protect the biodiversity for the longevity of life on this planet. The Central Park situated in the middle of the New York city is the perfect example of effective urban planning, as the park contains several ponds, vast variety of trees and plant species, encouraging biodiversity and exposure to green spaces, and being surrounded by the tall buildings.

Therefore, it can be concluded that, building tall apartment blocks in large cities is the best way to provide enough homes and living space for people, as it creates a significant amount of influence on the urban planning, allowing more facilities such as gardens, healthcare facilities, and also contributes to decrease traffic congestion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. The ideas are relevant, focusing on space efficiency and environmental preservation. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; for instance, the argument about 'smaller area' is mentioned in both the second and third paragraphs. While the example of Central Park is relevant, the essay could be improved by exploring potential counter-arguments or addressing the social implications of high-rise living to reach a higher band. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis remains at a moderate level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the phrase 'this shift in idea and and design' which contains a repetition error. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'urban planning', 'biodiversity', and 'natural habitat'. However, there is a lack of variety in word choice, and some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'staying connected nature' (missing 'to') and 'contributing to improve' (should be 'contributing to improving'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. Examples include 'replacing the previous versions where the row houses and large residential area' (awkward structure), 'it allows to add' (should be 'it allows for the addition of' or 'it allows us to add'), and 'leaving more room of other facilities' (should be 'room for'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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