Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 need of homes in large cities cannot bve refuted as it is extremely vital for people to live. This essay will discuss solutions along with my personal examples.

I will totally agree with the idea of building tall apartment blocks because it can save the land space. The usage of land will be in very moderate level which can be an aid for alot of people and government as well. Using suitable structures by architectures will be very worthwhile. On the other hand, Goverment can use some remaining land to create new buildings such as; hospitals, general clinics and pharmacies which provide advantages to people in health sectors.

Moreover, Using this techniques a large number of population can move towards cities rather than adjusting in countrysides; which eventually participates in country's development. A wide range of people are living in rural areas because there is not a substantial space for residency in cities. Although, giving them a chance to move; opens plenty of door for their and nation's thrive.

Apart from this, Government can demolish ancient building which are not usefeul now and can establish new residential space for citizens. This idea will be extremely constructive for abundance of people. In china, The authorities used enormous old buildings and created home spaces for their public.

In conclusion, Using right techniques not only benefit people for living in huge cities but also create other amenties for them. A smart approach for this will be more useful to live a fulfilling life.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by expressing a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention land usage and urban development, the arguments lack depth and specific supporting evidence. For instance, the example regarding China is vague and does not clearly illustrate how tall buildings specifically solved the housing crisis. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points by explaining the 'how' and 'why' behind your arguments, rather than just stating them. The response is balanced in its focus, but the overall development remains limited, which restricts the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'Apart from this' and 'Moreover'. Some transitions are abrupt, and the logical flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between discussing land usage and the movement of the population is somewhat disjointed. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track the progression of your argument. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words will help create a more cohesive and professional flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'useful', and 'worthwhile', which do not demonstrate a sophisticated command of English. There are also some noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'not a substantial space' instead of 'insufficient space' and 'abundance of people' instead of 'a large number of people'. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more academic synonyms for common words to express your ideas with greater nuance and accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'ancient building which are not usefeul'), incorrect article usage, and punctuation errors (e.g., the semicolon usage after 'such as'). Spelling errors like 'bve' and 'usefeul' also detract from the quality. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammar and punctuation will significantly improve your score.

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

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