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)

The question is about homes in big cities. Some people think the best way to provide homes is to build tall apartment blocks. I agree with this idea to some extent.

I agree because tall apartment blocks can give homes to many people. In big cities, there is not much land. If we build tall buildings, many families can live in one place. This is good because more people can have a house. Also, apartments are near shops, schools and work. People do not need to travel far. This saves time and money. For example, in Dubai and New York there are many tall buildings and many people live there.

But I also think there are some problems. Tall buildings are expensive to build. Also, people in apartments do not have gardens. Children do not have place to play. The building can be noisy and crowded. Some people like to live in small houses with gardens. They feel more free in a house.

In my opinion, tall apartment blocks are a good solution for big cities because we need many homes. But the government should also build some small houses and parks. This way people can choose what they like.

In conclusion, I think building tall apartment blocks is a good way to give homes to people in large cities. But it is not the only way. We also need other types of homes for people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of tall apartment blocks. However, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the position is clear, the arguments are somewhat superficial and lack the depth required for a higher band. For example, the point about 'shops, schools and work' is a good start but could be expanded with more specific analysis regarding urban planning or social sustainability. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the ideas to the extent expected at higher levels.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a logical flow from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'I agree because', 'Also', and 'In my opinion' are used frequently, making the writing feel somewhat mechanical. To improve, you should incorporate a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect sentences and ideas more fluidly, rather than relying on simple additive conjunctions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use simple words like 'big', 'good', and 'many'. While these words are used correctly, they do not demonstrate the range or precision required for a higher band. There is little attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary. To improve, you should aim to use more precise synonyms and collocations related to urban development, such as 'high-density housing', 'urban sprawl', or 'infrastructure'. Expanding your vocabulary will help you express your ideas with more sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay consists mostly of simple sentences. While there are some attempts at complex structures, they are limited and often follow a similar pattern. There are occasional grammatical errors, such as 'do not have place to play' (missing an article: 'a place') and 'give homes to people' (which is slightly unnatural; 'provide housing for people' would be better). The punctuation is generally correct, but the lack of variety in sentence structure limits the score. To achieve a higher band, you should practice using a wider range of complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses and conditional structures.

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

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