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)
The increase in migration rate of people from rural areas to urban areas has created issues of accomodation. To minimize this problem people believe [crossed out] tall buildings should build. I partially agree with the method that the individuals are providing.
On the one hand, development of tall apartments would could be done in a small area because the buildings will build tall not wide. This could provide more shelter in limited area which eventually reduces the problem of insufficient number of homes for residents. Furthermore, the government could use remaining land for other development activities such as making parks, streets, and many more. For instance, In Nepal, Kathmandu is regarded as the largest city so citizens migrate from their villages to build career and to improve their living which have created issues on finding rooms, However, the private businesses are providing rooms by building tall apartments.
Nevertheless, having to big apartments can cause some drawbacks such as, high risk of accidents and also time consuming for the people living at the top floor.
Children and elder citizens could make be careless leading them to fall down. Moreover, earthquakes can easily destroy such tall buildings, which destroys human life living in ground floors. And also coming down from the top would consume more time which for individuals who work in another place.
In conclusion, big building blocks play a vital role on providing homes in large towns but it comes with some major and minor problems for both the residents and government. So, I believe in balance to advancement of apartments.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout, although the development of ideas is somewhat limited. You provide relevant arguments for both sides, such as land efficiency and safety concerns. However, the explanation of these points is brief and could be further extended with more detailed analysis or evidence. For instance, the point about 'time consuming' for residents on top floors is a unique observation but lacks depth. To improve, ensure that each main idea is fully supported with a clear explanation or a more detailed example to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Nevertheless' to signal transitions between ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences feels slightly disjointed. For example, the transition between the discussion of Kathmandu and the conclusion could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'the individuals are providing' in the introduction, which does not clearly refer back to the prompt's statement.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'migration rate', 'urban areas', and 'accommodation'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'buildings will build tall' (should be 'be built tall') and 'big building blocks'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate a wider range of less common lexical items and ensure that collocations are natural. For example, instead of 'making parks', 'developing green spaces' would be more sophisticated.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction, such as 'tall buildings should build' instead of 'should be built' and 'human life living in ground floors'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To improve, focus on mastering the passive voice and ensuring that your verb forms are accurate. Proofreading for basic errors like these will help improve the overall accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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