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)

People are of the opinion that solution to providing enough homes in huge cities is to build tall apartment blocks and houses. I would disagree with this statement, as its not the only solution. As it can pose more environmental threats and create a difference in living standards. This essay will discuss the both sides of the opinion and give the final verdict.

Firstly, a person living on the ground floor of tall apartment and a person living on 50th floor will not have the same style and standards of living compared to one another. As the person living on 50th floor will have access to sun and wind as he opens a window, and will be able to enjoy the views that the city provides. On the contrary, individual living on the ground floor will not have the pleasure of sun and winds of the city, nor he will enjoy the beautiful sceneries from windows of his apartment. This difference in living standards may create a sense of jealousy in citizens of the city. And may lead to protests for their rights which will harm the city's environment and disrupt its peace.

Furthermore, tall apartment blocks maybe more threat to environment than good. In case of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Tall buildings pose more threat and can be dangerous. For instance, due to earthquake a tall building can collapse and harm the population living in the apartment as well as on the streets and roads. So tall buildings and apartments can be hazardous and potential threat to citizens. Other factors may also harm the surroundings such as the material used in construction which can pollute the environment.

On the contrary, building tall apartments can occupy less space on the ground. As many people can live in just one building and save more ground space for roads and other projects, such as a Mall or big company. But the advantages can not outweigh the drawbacks.

In conclusion, tall apartments would occupy less space but it can not give the similar living standards to everyone living in that same apartment. And tall building blocks can pose a threat to surrounding environment and its people. One solution can be that to expand cities rather than build tall apartment blocks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against the statement. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and occasionally illogical. For example, the argument that living on different floors causes 'jealousy' and 'protests' is not a convincing or standard academic argument regarding urban planning. While the essay covers both sides, the counter-argument regarding space efficiency is underdeveloped. To improve, you should focus on more practical arguments, such as infrastructure strain, social isolation, or the cost of maintenance, rather than speculative social consequences. The conclusion is clear, but the supporting points need more depth to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'On the contrary', which help the reader follow the argument. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally weak, such as the use of 'it' in 'as its not the only solution' without a clear antecedent. Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack smooth flow, particularly in the second paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a strong topic sentence would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'urban planning' (implied), 'natural disasters', and 'infrastructure'. However, there is some repetition of basic words like 'tall', 'building', and 'apartment'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'maybe more threat' instead of 'may pose more of a threat'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the same vocabulary throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' solution, 'the' earthquake), subject-verb agreement issues ('tall apartment blocks maybe more threat'), and punctuation errors. Some sentences are also grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'nor he will enjoy'. To improve, focus on mastering the use of articles and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct verb forms and proper punctuation. Reducing these frequent errors will significantly improve your score.

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

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