Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

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)

In recent years, housing has become a subject of debate in many countries. Some argue that the construction of big buildings is the best method to provide houses for people in large cities. I completely agree with the statement because it takes less area and is a reasonable price. One of the main reasons to build tall apartments are reasonable price. The price of property is higher in cities, and normal people cannot afford to purchase a house. Therefore, the government is starting to construct flats that are lower in price. For example, in London the high number of people are living in flat because they cannot buy a home. Thus, it also resolves house issues as well as providing housing. Similarly, another reason for constructing high-rises is that they take less area. Government has built apartments in cities due to less available land. Moreover, the population is increasing every year as a result construction of large building flat blocks only solution. For instance, in Karachi because of the shortage of land, the government allows apartments which take less area. They provide housing to thousands of individuals. In contrast, some think that construction of large buildings cause accidents. These high-rise may fall anytime whenever there is an earthquack or explosion. The state may set limits the number of floors in a building to minimize the risk. In conclusion, tall apartments are good for the public and government, it resolves house crises as well as gives shelter for a higher number of people. It is a better use of land and good for future as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding land efficiency and affordability are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of London and Karachi. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited; for instance, the explanation of why tall buildings are more affordable could be more detailed, as the high cost of construction for high-rises is often a counter-argument. While the response covers all parts of the task, the ideas are presented in a somewhat simplistic manner, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands. To improve, you should aim to explore the implications of your arguments more deeply rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Therefore' and 'Thus'. Additionally, some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. For example, the shift from discussing affordability to land usage could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would help to elevate the coherence and cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic terms like 'big buildings' and 'good'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'house issues' instead of 'housing shortages' and 'earthquack' (spelling error). To achieve a higher band, you should attempt to incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary related to urban planning and economics, and pay closer attention to spelling and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow. For instance, subject-verb agreement issues occur, such as 'one of the main reasons... are' (should be 'is') and 'construction of large building flat blocks only solution' (missing 'is the'). There are also issues with article usage and pluralization, such as 'in flat' instead of 'in flats'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage will lead to significant improvement.

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.