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)
It is argued that an ideal way to provide enough houses in large cities is to constructed high-rise residential apartments. I strongly agree with this notion, primarily due to the escalating cost of land, and rapid increase in population in large cities.
To begin with, high-rise residential buildings are beneficial to accommodate large number of people. To elaborate it, due to rapid surge in population and urbanization, it becomes challenging for everyone to get a desirable house, because individuals do not prefer houses which are high in rents. For example, people prioritize that houses which are closer to schools, hospitals and markets as well as budget- friendly, so tall apartments should be built to adjust large number of people in desirable apartments. Thus, tall apartments play a crucial role in providing benefits to a huge number of population.
Furthermore, tall aparments play an effective role to provide budget- friendly houses to people who belong to low-income backgrounds. To explain it, the esclating cost of land makes it cost-prohibitive for developers to buy land for expansion instead building tall apartments presents a viable solution. For example, if tall buildings are build, they will be low in rents, everyone will fulfil their dreams by living in big cities. Hence, tall apartments make it convenient for students and employees to work and study in big cities with affording residential rent.
In contrast, some people believed that, high-rise residential apartments are
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, ending abruptly at 237 words. This significantly impacts the development of the argument, as the essay is incomplete and lacks a conclusion. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the final paragraph is cut off mid-sentence, meaning the task is not fully addressed. To improve, you must ensure you provide a complete structure including a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a summary conclusion. The ideas presented are relevant, but the lack of completion prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast' to signal the progression of ideas. However, the logical flow is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding statement means the essay lacks a sense of closure. To improve, focus on ensuring each paragraph is fully developed and that the essay reaches a logical conclusion that restates your position.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urbanization', 'cost-prohibitive', and 'residential'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'to constructed' (should be 'to construct') and 'adjust large number of people' (should be 'accommodate'). The repetition of phrases like 'tall apartments' and 'big cities' limits the sophistication of your writing. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and ensure that your word forms are grammatically correct in context.
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 distract the reader. Examples include 'people prioritize that houses which are closer' (unnecessary 'that'), 'if tall buildings are build' (should be 'built'), and 'with affording residential rent' (should be 'afford'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall fluency. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice constructions to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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