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)

A thought of constructing block of flats to give plenty of houses in large urban areas has become increasingly common. This is because change in lifestyle has taken mammoth dimensions. I agree with the stand point, keeping in mind a few negative points.

To begin with, many wonderful facets are associated with fact of build apartments instead of houses to provide enough homes. The dominant reason is, with this people can save large amount of land. To be more specific, when apartment are build then a plenty of land because land is often limited in cities. when people make 2 floor houses on different place it is not good. It has been observed that, it is convenient for residents. Explain, they are near to schools, parks and shops. It make good infrastructure because many people live on limited land that many land is save for farming and other activities.

Despite the fact, few common criticisms are observed, the contributing factor is, it is not safe. To elaborate, people think that apartments are not safe in bad weather like flood, earthquake and thunderstorm because tall buildings get damage in this conditions. Besides, not all facilities are available in blocks as compare to houses, because they are made in limited area and limited development. For example, there is no backyard available in apartments, which are important for children to play in open area.

To conclude, apartments can save large amount of land and give a plenty of developments, with this we can save farmland and natural resources. It gives healthy lifestyle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. While the benefits of land conservation are mentioned, the explanation is repetitive and lacks depth. The counter-arguments regarding safety and lack of facilities are introduced but remain somewhat superficial. To improve, you should provide more specific examples or logical evidence to support your claims. For instance, instead of simply stating that tall buildings are damaged in bad weather, you could discuss modern engineering standards that mitigate these risks. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Explain, they are near to' and 'Despite the fact, few common criticisms are observed' are used incorrectly, which disrupts the flow of ideas. The progression between sentences is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition from land saving to infrastructure is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') clearly points back to the intended noun.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. There is frequent repetition of basic words like 'land', 'houses', and 'apartments'. Some collocations are unnatural, such as 'give a plenty of developments' or 'make good infrastructure'. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'build' instead of 'building' or 'built'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'high-density housing', 'urban sprawl', 'sustainable development', or 'structural integrity'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors, such as 'when apartment are build then a plenty of land because land is often limited'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text (e.g., 'many land is save'). Punctuation is also problematic, with missing commas and run-on sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring that your verb tenses and pluralization are consistent. Reducing the number of errors in simple sentences will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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