Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Constructing high rise apartment buildings is considered by some to be the most effective way of providing sufficient housing is major cities. I partly agree that building tall apartment blocks is an effective way to provide housing, but i do not believe it is the best solution is every solution.

To begin with, tall apartment blocks provide a large number of homes in a limited amount of land. This is particularly useful in cities where land is expensive and available space is limited. For example, a single high rise building contain hundreds of apartments on a relatively small area of land. Therefore, constructing high rise buildings can help cities accommodate more residents without expanding more surrounding areas.

However, relying mainly on high rise buildings can create such overcrowding and a lack of open space. if too many people live in small area, public facilities and transport system may become heavily congested. For instance, residents of densely populated areas may experience crowded roads, lifts and public spaces. As a result, cities should develop other types of housing and maintain sufficient parks and community facilities.

In conclusion, i agree that tall apartment blocks are effective way to provide housing in large cities because they make efficient use of limited land. However, i do not believe they are the best solution on their own, as cities also need other forms of housing and adequate public space.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by presenting a balanced view, acknowledging the benefits of high-rise buildings while highlighting the drawbacks. However, the response is under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the position is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples and provide more detailed explanations for your points. For instance, you could discuss specific urban planning strategies or provide a more concrete example of a city that has successfully balanced high-rise living with green spaces.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the transition between the benefits and drawbacks could be smoother. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') is used more precisely to connect sentences and avoid repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use relevant terms like 'accommodate', 'congested', and 'densely populated'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some repetitive word choices. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common vocabulary related to urban development, such as 'urban sprawl', 'infrastructure', or 'sustainable development'. Ensure you avoid informal phrasing like 'i' (which should be capitalized).

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('a single high rise building contain' should be 'contains') and minor prepositional errors ('solution is every solution' should be 'solution in every situation'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the score. Focus on proofreading for basic errors and try to incorporate more varied complex sentence structures to demonstrate greater control.

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

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