Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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)

Nowadays, It is true that an important part of the population is debating with the idea of building tall apartments blocks to provide enough homes in large cities in the world. I totally agree with the idea of building infrastructures blocks to offer homes for every citizens.

First of all, building a large number of tall appartements blocks can be very efficient regarding the small places in big cities. It can also help citizens with low revenues to find accommodations in their budget.

For example, a study conducted by the University of Paris and published by the famous Scientific Gadile in 2020 proves that a large part of the population believes that building tall apartments blocks in large cities can gives many opportunities for a lot of persons to find safe accommodations for low prices.

Then, it is fundamental to take into account the environmental system and the harmful effects than constructions of basements, appartements, buildings can have on our planet. Therefore, every country should take into account the importance of a sustainable vision of infrastructures.

For instance, in Portugal, the government tried to find solutions that everyone needs to follow. with the intention of polluting less, and find some specific areas to construct without impacting the environment which is a good step for our planet.

In conclusion, I definitely think that it is necessary to create apartments blocks to find solutions, above all that everyone needs to have the possibility to find accommodations and solutions also regarding the large pollution that it can give rise to.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of tall apartment blocks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention efficiency and affordability, the arguments lack depth and specific analysis. The example provided regarding a study is vague and lacks a clear connection to the core argument of urban planning. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points by explaining the 'why' and 'how' behind your arguments, such as discussing land scarcity or the social benefits of high-density living in more detail. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs is occasionally weak. For instance, the transition to the environmental argument in the fourth paragraph feels abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the phrase 'above all that everyone needs to have the possibility' in the conclusion, which makes the final sentence difficult to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use some repetitive phrasing, such as 'building tall apartments blocks' and 'large cities'. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'debating with the idea' (instead of 'debating the idea') and 'infrastructures blocks'. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'sustainable vision', the overall range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more flexible command of the English language.

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 hinder clarity. Examples include 'every citizens' (should be 'every citizen'), 'can gives' (should be 'can give'), and 'harmful effects than constructions' (should be 'harmful effects that the construction of...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage and capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy significantly.

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