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)

Large cities often come with great opportunities and facilities. One of the big reasons people usually migrate or commute is employability. Due to these and several other reasons large cities often face issues regarding lack of residential areas. Authorities in-charge and left with only one option which is, building tall apartment blocks to reside as much as possible population in it. This comes with advantages as well as disadvantages.

Population on this planet is increasing extensively each day. Earth consists of 30% land and 70% water. Managing 7 Billion people on just 30% of the Earth is a gigantic task for the authorities as well as our responsibility to adjust and adapt to our surroundings. Surely living in an apartment and having no views of greenery or nature must be frustrating or depressing at time. On the other hand, you could grow your own plants or contribute to the preservation of flora in your own possible way. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Cutting down of vegetation, destroying wildlife, possible extinction of diversity as well of natural resources are the things we need to look down at before prioritizing our comfort and luxury. For instance, sacrificing a few "views" from our apartment could lead to homes for animals like otters, squirrels and all kinds of birds which contribute a huge part in preserving our environment.

I would agree that the only possible and effective way to provide enough homes in wide spread cities is to build tall apartment buildings and blocks in order to let other species live too.

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 uneven. While you mention the need to preserve nature, the connection between high-density living and environmental preservation is a bit abstract and could be better supported with more concrete examples of urban planning or infrastructure. The argument is present, but the explanation of why this is the 'best' way compared to alternatives (like urban sprawl or suburban development) is limited. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph provides a more detailed justification for your stance rather than relying on general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand' and 'For instance,' which help the flow. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Due to these and several other reasons large cities often face issues.' It is not immediately clear what 'these' refers to. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that every pronoun has a clear antecedent would strengthen the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'employability,' 'extensively,' and 'preservation.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'look down at' (which should be 'look into' or 'consider') and 'reside as much as possible population' (which is grammatically awkward). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the phrasing is sometimes unnatural. To improve, focus on learning common collocations—words that naturally go together—rather than just individual synonyms. This will help your writing sound more fluent and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'Authorities in-charge and left with only one option' (missing verb/subject agreement) and 'at time' (should be 'at times'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for small articles and prepositions to increase the number of error-free sentences in your work.

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.