Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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)

Most reliable way to allocate accommodation in substantial towns is to construct tall apartment sections. I partially agree to the idea of providing apartment blocks for accommodation despite having some risk of collapsing the building during the time of disasters.

On the one hand, constructing tall buildings can reduce the requirements for more land as it eventually, cover small space compare to building house for every individuals. The open space can be used for building wider roads, parks, plantation, parking and many more which will significantly benefit the people of the city. For example, if open area is utilized by expanding the roads it will reduce the traffic which is the main problem in the big cities.Additionally, it will help to socialize with peoples residing in same building or same colony as people encounter each other more frequently. Socialization enhance the communication skill of a person which is most useful skill in every job sector.In a research, done by oxford university on people living in apartment and house it is found that people residing on apartments are more productive and happy in life.

However, during the time of disasters like fire and earthquake people have no time to escape from tall buildings. Tall buildings are also more likely to collapse during the time of earthquake.

In conclusion, building tall apartment for accommodation is beneficial for both individual and city however if we overcome the drawbacks of residing in a tall building by providing proper evacuation system and outstand earthquake then its advantages can easily overcome its drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position. The main ideas, such as land efficiency and social benefits, are relevant. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding 'socialization' is a bit tenuous, and the research citation is vague. The counter-argument regarding safety is introduced but lacks depth in terms of how modern engineering might mitigate these risks. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or logical explanations for your claims, ensuring that the development of each point is balanced and fully explored.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'However', and 'In conclusion', which help the flow of ideas. However, some transitions are mechanical, and there are instances where the connection between sentences could be smoother. For example, the jump from traffic reduction to socialization feels abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, but the use of 'it' in some sentences is slightly ambiguous. Overall, the progression of ideas is coherent, but the management of cohesive devices could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'allocate accommodation', 'substantial', and 'mitigate' (implied by context). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'apartment sections' instead of 'apartment blocks' or 'complexes', and 'plantation' which is not the correct term for urban green spaces. Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'during the time of disasters'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is often missing or misused) and pluralization ('people' vs 'peoples', 'on apartments' vs 'in apartments'). There are also minor errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent. To achieve a higher band, you need to increase the frequency of error-free sentences and demonstrate more consistent control over complex grammatical structures.

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

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