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)

There is an ongoing debate whether constructing larger units of houses in urban regions is the best way to provide sufficient residents. Although there are some drawbacks to this statement, I am of the opinion that this is a positive development because it reduces congestion and saves green areas.

On the one hand, long apartment units could become more expensive to build because it requires costly construction method from foundation to finish. This reason is not enough because the merits far outweighs the demerits such as, deduction in populated places. Building bungalows scattered all over a city can cause lack of space which could result to air pollution. For example, in a street instead of having 4 tall buildings with 100 unit of houses that could house 100 individuals, having 100 bungalows would make the street more congested and could cause air pollution. Ultimately, taller buildings are safer and could prevent air pollution amongst members of a society

On the other hand, I am strongly of the opinion that larger residential units could preserve green zones. When a tall unit is constructed in a thousand square metre, it saves space for trees and crops. Green areas should naturally be part of a city as it helps for fresh circulation of air and water control. moreover, green areas can also be used as a public park for recreational activities. For instance, in a every major expressway there should be a green zone for public parks to be built and storm water unit for reducing flood. Longer units should be constructed more so green areas can be utilized for leisure, water control and farming rather than building smaller homes.

In summary, while taller homes can be more expensive to build and maintain. I remain on the opinion that taller buildings are more beneficial because it reduces pollution of air that could cause sickness and also it provides green areas for cultivation of crops, regulates water and provides public parks for citizens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments regarding urban congestion and the preservation of green spaces. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. For instance, the argument about construction costs is dismissed rather quickly, and the example comparing 100 bungalows to 4 tall buildings is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more nuanced and fully explored. The conclusion effectively summarizes your main points, reinforcing your stance on the benefits of high-density housing for environmental and social health.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In summary' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'This reason is not enough because the merits far outweighs the demerits'. Additionally, there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'it' when referring to plural nouns. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent pronoun-antecedent agreement would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'congestion', 'residential units', and 'recreational activities'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'provide sufficient residents' (which should be 'accommodate residents') and 'result to air pollution' (which should be 'result in'). Some phrasing is repetitive, and you occasionally struggle with word forms, such as 'longer units' instead of 'taller buildings'. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('merits far outweighs' should be 'merits far outweigh') and article usage errors ('in a every major expressway'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some run-on sentences and missing commas. While these errors rarely impede overall communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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