Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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)

Building high-rise apartment portions is the best way to provide enough homes in urban areas. I firmly agree with this statement because a large number of people can get and stay at their own apartment happily without the other person's involvement.

One of the major reasons of making blocks in tall apartment is that people can get their own space and privacy. In addition to that, it will be particularly best for those people who are newly married couples. In large cities, a number of people are increasing so, government should take necessary steps to build many apartments as possible. Many people can spend their life at ease with these little steps. Additionally, newly born babies needs separate environment because of their well-being.

Second main reason for

building high-rise apartment blocks is students who study day and night for their bright future. For instance, if a diligent student is not getting their own space , it will become almost impossible for him to get their required grades. Because of combine family system, many students are unable to focus on their studies. Moreover, that's not the case with every student. Some students want to get separate portion because of their girlfriends.

In conclusion, the best way for providing enough homes in urban areas is to build high-rise apartment portions. In my view, It is far better to get their own space instead of involvement of others. People who are getting their own apartment blocks will spend their life with peace and it will prevent them from anxiety, depression etc.

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 response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of high-rise apartments. However, the development of ideas is limited and somewhat superficial. While you mention privacy and study environments, the arguments are not fully extended or supported with sophisticated reasoning. For instance, the mention of 'girlfriends' is irrelevant to the topic of urban housing solutions and detracts from the academic tone. To improve, focus on broader societal or economic arguments, such as land scarcity, urban sprawl, or infrastructure efficiency, rather than personal or anecdotal reasons. The response stays on topic, but the depth of analysis is insufficient for a higher band 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 repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'In addition to that' and 'Additionally'. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the logical flow within paragraphs is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition from the need for privacy to the specific mention of 'newly born babies'. Paragraphing is present, but the internal cohesion needs to be smoother to achieve a higher score. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will improve the overall 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', 'best', and 'little steps'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'making blocks in tall apartment' and 'separate portion', which are not standard English. To improve, you should aim to use more academic vocabulary related to urban planning, such as 'high-density housing', 'urban infrastructure', 'sustainable development', or 'residential capacity'. Expanding your range of synonyms and focusing on correct word combinations will significantly enhance your lexical score.

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 clarity. Examples include 'newly born babies needs separate environment' (subject-verb agreement), 'Because of combine family system' (incorrect adjective form), and 'the involvement of others' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing spaces after commas and unnecessary capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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