Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Rapid population growth in major cities has created severe housing shortages worldwide. While constructing high-rise residential towers is often viewed as the primary fix, I largely disagree that this is the absolute best approach. Although high-rises maximise land space, alternative strategies like developing suburban infrastructure offer more sustainable long-term solutions.

On the one hand, building tall apartment complexes is an efficient way to address acute housing deficits. In metropolitan areas where land is limited and real estate prices are high, vertical development allows local governments to accommodate thousands of residents on a small footprint. For instance, cities like Singapore and Tokyo have successfully utilised high-density high-rises to house large populations near central business districts. Additionally, consolidating residents in centralised towers makes it cheaper and easier to supply public utilities, such as water, electricity, and public transport.

On the other hand, relying solely on high-rise developments creates social and infrastructural challenges. Living in dense apartment blocks can reduce personal space and lead to social isolation, as residents rarely have private yards or green spaces. Furthermore, high concentrations of high-rises place immense strain on local roads, causing severe traffic congestion. Instead of over-building city centres, governments should invest in expanding efficient transport links to suburban areas. Improving commuter rail networks allows people to live comfortably in spacious, low-density housing further away while commuting easily for work.

In conclusion, while high-rise apartments provide a practical short-term answer to urban density, they are not the sole or best strategy. Expanding suburban transportation networks represents a far better, more balanced solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and providing a balanced argument. You acknowledge the benefits of high-rise buildings while effectively contrasting them with the advantages of suburban development. Your ideas are well-developed, with specific examples like Singapore and Tokyo, and the logic flows consistently from the introduction to the conclusion. The position is maintained throughout, and the arguments are relevant and well-supported, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

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 the benefits of high-rises and the drawbacks is smooth, using effective cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and the use of referencing is precise, ensuring the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the academic context. Phrases such as 'acute housing deficits', 'vertical development', 'consolidating residents', and 'social isolation' show a sophisticated command of language. The collocations are natural, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice. You successfully use less common lexical items to convey precise meanings, which contributes to the overall clarity and professional tone of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, including conditional-like logic and subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of complex ideas. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the piece. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical maturity.

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

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