Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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 6.5)

It is often argued that building high-rise apartments is the best way to provide homes in large cities. I largely agree with this view because such buildings save valuable land and allow many people to live close to essential facilities.

The main advantage of high-rise buildings is that they make efficient use of limited urban space. As the population of cities continues to grow, there is often not enough land to build separate houses for everyone. Constructing upwards allows hundreds of families to live in one building without using a large area of land. For example, a single apartment block can accommodate far more people than several individual houses. Therefore, high-rise housing can help cities deal with increasing population and limited land.

Another benefit is that apartment blocks can provide convenient access to important services. Modern residential buildings are often located near shops, schools, hospitals and public transport, making daily life easier for residents. They can also include facilities such as parking areas, playgrounds and security services. However, living in a high-rise building may not be suitable for families who prefer private gardens or larger living spaces. Despite this, the advantages are greater in densely populated cities where land is expensive and scarce.

In conclusion, I largely agree that high-rise apartment buildings are one of the best ways to provide housing in large cities. They use limited land efficiently and allow residents to live close to essential services, although other types of housing should also be available.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses the prompt clearly and maintains a consistent position throughout. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, focusing on land efficiency and service accessibility. However, the response is slightly under the 250-word minimum requirement (247 words), which constitutes a minor omission. While the arguments are well-supported, they could be further extended with more specific examples or a deeper exploration of the counter-argument to reach a higher band. The position is clear, but the slight lack of length prevents it from fully meeting the criteria for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and ideas flow logically from one to the next. Cohesive devices such as 'The main advantage', 'Another benefit', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'high-rise', 'densely populated', 'urban space', and 'essential facilities' correctly. While the range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with precision, it lacks the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the academic context well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Examples such as 'As the population of cities continues to grow, there is often not enough land...' show a good grasp of complex sentence construction. Punctuation is used correctly, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The control over grammatical structures is consistent, and the minor slips do not impede communication at all.

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

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