Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The rapid growth of populations in urban areas has increased the demand for better and more affordable housing. Some people argue that building tall apartment blocks is the most convenient and cost-effective approach to meeting this increase in demand. While I agree that constructing high-rise buildings may be an efficient way to provide housing in densely populated cities, I do not think that this is necessarily the best solution to address the problem.

On the one hand, constructing tall residential buildings is an efficient way of using limited urban land. Large cities often have extremely expensive land, making it difficult to provide sufficient housing through low-rise developments such as individual houses. By building upwards, hundreds, if not thousands, of people can be accommodated on a relatively small area of land. This can also help prevent the uncontrolled expansion of cities into surrounding agricultural areas and natural habitats, which would be one of the major advantages of constructing tall apartment blocks.

On the other hand, relying too heavily on apartment blocks can create several social and environmental problems. Buildings can become overcrowded, particularly when they are constructed without sufficient infrastructure and facilities. Residents may also have limited access to personal outdoor spaces like lawns.

A more effective approach would be to combine these high-rise developments with other forms of housing in order to maintain a balance. Governments could construct launch affordable housing projects on non-cultivable land to ensure that precious agricultural land is not exploited. Housing development should be accompanied by careful urban planning to ensure that the people are not put at any disadvantage.

In conclusion, tall apartment blocks are an effective way to accommodate large numbers of people where land is scarce, but they should not be considered the single best solution. In my view, a combination of high-rise and low-rise developments, is a more sustainable way to meet the housing needs of growing cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that acknowledges the benefits of high-rise buildings while arguing for a more balanced approach. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the discussion on land efficiency and environmental impact. The argument is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could further develop the 'social and environmental problems' mentioned in the third paragraph, as this section is slightly less detailed than the others. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a clear, logical progression of ideas that directly answers the 'to what extent' aspect of the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow between the arguments is natural, and the transition from the benefits of high-rise buildings to the potential drawbacks is handled well, contributing to a coherent and easy-to-follow argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'densely populated', 'uncontrolled expansion', 'agricultural areas', and 'non-cultivable land'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the word choice is generally precise. While the range is good, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest bands. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the tone remains formal and academic throughout the piece.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'While I agree that...', '...if they are constructed without...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar is controlled. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. There are very few minor errors, and the overall grammatical accuracy is high. The student shows a strong command of sentence construction, which allows for the clear expression of complex ideas without any significant interference from grammatical slips.

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

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