Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is stated that an effective way to resolve the issue of inadequate homes for people in urban places is to construct high-rise buildings. I completely agree with this idea, as it can provide a faster and cheaper solution to the problem.

Firstly, building tall flats to cater to the numerous citizens is an efficient way to deal with the problem. It will take up less space to build houses for thousands of people if tall buildings are constructed, as each house will be stacked on top of another. This will result in land efficiency and free up space for other constructions. It is also a faster way to reduce the shortage of homes because one building can accommodate many families at once. For example, in Hong Kong, high-rise buildings are made to cater to their large population.

Moreover, apartments that are located in city centres make commuting easier and more convenient. It facilitates less reliance on cars and buses, which in turn saves costs and lowers carbon emissions, which is beneficial for the environment. Furthermore, building up rather than out protects surrounding green spaces such as farmlands and parks from urban sprawl.

In conclusion, high-rise residences provide a quicker and more effective way to solve the ongoing problem of housing shortage in cities. It has additional benefits like preserving greenery and reducing transportation costs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas regarding land efficiency and environmental benefits are relevant, they are somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you need to expand on your arguments with more detailed explanations or additional examples. For instance, you could discuss the potential social drawbacks of high-rise living, such as lack of community space, to provide a more balanced and thorough exploration of the topic. The current length prevents a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' effectively to link your points. However, the range of cohesive devices is somewhat limited, and the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., using pronouns or synonyms to refer back to previous ideas) is used more fluidly to improve the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'inadequate', 'urban sprawl', and 'accommodate' correctly. The language is generally clear and appropriate for an academic context. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the 'less common' lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of proficiency. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning and architecture. Avoid relying on simple phrases like 'good' or 'bad' and aim for more descriptive, academic alternatives to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, your use of conditional-like structures ('If tall buildings are constructed...') is correct. To improve, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or relative clauses, more consistently. While your current control is good, increasing the complexity and variety of your sentence patterns will help demonstrate a higher level of grammatical flexibility, which is necessary for reaching the higher bands.

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

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