Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 7.5)

The rapid growth of cities has created a serious demand for housing. Some people believe that the best solution is to construct tall apartment buildings. I partly agree with this view because high-rise buildings can provide homes for many people, but they are not suitable for every situation.

One major advantage of tall apartment blocks is that they make efficient use of limited land. Large cities often have expensive land and rapidly growing populations. Building upwards allows developers to accommodate more people without using large areas of land. For example, a single high-rise building can provide hundreds of apartments on a relatively small piece of land. This can also help reduce urban sprawl and leave more space for parks and other public facilities.

However, I do not believe that constructing tall buildings alone is the best solution. High-rise apartments can sometimes create overcrowding and put considerable pressure on public services such as transport, schools and hospitals. In addition, some people prefer houses with gardens and more private outdoor space, particularly families with young children. Therefore, cities should provide a mixture of housing options rather than relying entirely on apartment blocks.

Another effective approach is to develop affordable housing in less densely populated areas around major cities while improving public transport between these areas and city centres. This would allow people to live outside crowded urban centres while still having convenient access to employment and education.

In conclusion, I partly agree that tall apartment blocks are an effective way to provide sufficient housing in large cities. However, I believe the best approach is to combine high-rise developments with affordable housing, good public transport and careful urban planning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear, balanced position. You acknowledge the benefits of high-rise buildings while effectively arguing that they are not a universal solution. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the points regarding land efficiency and the potential strain on public services. You provide relevant examples, such as the mention of families preferring houses with gardens, which adds depth to your argument. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position, ensuring that all parts of the task are covered with a consistent and logical viewpoint throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with the benefits of high-rise buildings, moving to the drawbacks, and finally offering an alternative solution. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'However', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the different perspectives is smooth. The structure is coherent, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'efficient use of limited land', 'urban sprawl', and 'densely populated areas' show a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for an academic context, it is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more nuanced collocations or less common academic synonyms. However, the current range is more than adequate to convey your ideas clearly and effectively without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('If... then' implied) and subordinate clauses ('while improving public transport', 'rather than relying entirely on'). The grammar is highly accurate, with almost no errors present. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over complex structures is consistent. This level of accuracy and range is indicative of a strong command of English grammar, supporting clear and professional communication of your ideas.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.