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 rapid growth of urban populations has created a serious shortage of housing in many major cities. Some people believes that constructing tall apartment buildings is the most effective solution to this problem. I partially agree with this view because although high-raise buildings can provide more accommodation, other approaches are also necessary.

On the other hand, relying only on apartment blocks may create several problems. Large number of peoples living in high-rise buildings can lead to overcrowding and place extra pressure on public services such as transport, schools, and hospitals. Moreover, some people prefer living in a houses with gardens and more personal space, which improves their quality life. Therefore, governments should also consider developing suburban areas and improving transport links between cities and surrounding regions.

In conclusion, I agree that tall apartment blocks are an important part of solving housing shortages in big cities for the reason that they make efficient use of land. However, I believe that they should be combined with other solution, such as expanding suburban housing and improving infrastructure, to create a balanced approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits your ability to develop your ideas. While you address the prompt and provide a clear position, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, you mention that high-rise buildings cause overcrowding and pressure on services, but you do not provide specific examples or detailed reasoning to support this claim. To reach a higher band, you must expand your points with more depth and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full discussion of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' to transition between ideas. However, the limited length prevents the use of more sophisticated linking words or a more complex flow of information. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure feels somewhat mechanical due to the brevity of the response. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that each paragraph contains a fully developed central idea.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urban populations', 'housing shortages', and 'infrastructure'. However, there are some errors in word choice and form, such as 'high-raise' (should be 'high-rise') and 'a houses' (should be 'houses'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and ensure accurate word forms throughout your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional-like structure in your conclusion. However, there are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'Some people believes' (should be 'believe') and 'Large number of peoples' (should be 'A large number of people'). These errors do not generally impede communication, but they are frequent enough to affect the overall accuracy score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralization errors to improve your control.

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

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