Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
I absolutely disagree with this statement. In my opinion, in the name of giving people enough shelter in huge and crowded cities, building tall apartment blocks are not supposed to be the best ways. Because if all the people start migrating and living in one already crowded city, it can lead to many disasters.
what I believe is, if we keep on making large buildings in the cities, it will cross the threshold level for a lot of crisis like more prone to huge loss if any natural disaster occur, waste management, declining in electricity availability , and many others. I would like to mention one example. In 2072 B.S, Nepal faced a natural disaster i.e. earthquake which leaded to a mass death of our people. The country is still grieving. Hadn't we made large buildings instead of small ones for medium no of populations, it wouldn't have caused that amount of loss.
I think the government should encourage people to stay in their own hometown and work in developing their own place so that they can stay with their loved ones in their own small houses.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you clearly state your disagreement, the arguments provided are underdeveloped. For instance, you mention 'waste management' and 'electricity availability' as issues but do not explain how tall buildings specifically exacerbate these problems. The example regarding the Nepal earthquake is relevant, but the connection between building height and the specific disaster is not fully explored. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed reasoning and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full discussion of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your position. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'what I believe is' and 'I would like to mention' are somewhat informal and repetitive. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraph is abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' 'in contrast') to connect your ideas more fluidly. Additionally, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to guide the reader through your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You rely on somewhat simplistic phrasing, such as 'huge and crowded cities' and 'mass death of our people.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'cross the threshold level for a lot of crisis.' To improve, focus on using more academic vocabulary and precise collocations. Instead of repeating 'large buildings,' try using synonyms like 'high-rise developments,' 'vertical housing,' or 'skyscrapers' to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'building tall apartment blocks are not supposed to be' should be 'is not,' and 'if any natural disaster occur' should be 'occurs.' Additionally, 'leaded to' is an incorrect past tense form of 'lead.' While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors in subject-verb agreement and verb forms limit your score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and practice using more complex sentence structures with greater precision.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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