Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 6.5)

It is often argued that providing a sufficient number of homes in large urban areas requires constructing **high-rise residential buildings**. I largely agree with this view because **tall apartment blocks can preserve valuable land**, and a large number of homes can be accommodated within a single building.

Firstly, constructing a **large residential building** can help **preserve land that would otherwise be used for housing**. Building only a single-storey house on an area such as one hectare can **limit the availability of land for future housing development**. As a result, purchasing land for houses and offices may become increasingly expensive. Instead of constructing individual apartments on separate plots of land, we can **accommodate multiple households in a single high-rise building**. This can **conserve land for future development**.

Secondly, living in a **high-rise residential complex** can be more accessible for people, and apartment rents can also be **relatively affordable for people from different income groups**. People who construct their own homes require a **substantial amount of capital** and also need legal documents and approval from the local authorities, which can make the process more challenging. Meanwhile, the government can work with local communities to **preserve these areas as valuable national assets** for various purposes in the future.

To sum up, constructing **high-rise buildings to accommodate a large number of households** is a more effective way to reduce high housing costs than constructing individual homes on separate plots. Tall residential buildings can **make housing more affordable and accessible to a wider range of people**.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt clearly, maintaining a consistent position throughout. The arguments regarding land preservation and affordability are relevant and logically developed. However, the essay is quite brief, barely meeting the minimum word count. While the ideas are sound, they could be further extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. For instance, the second paragraph touches on government involvement but could elaborate on how high-rise living specifically impacts social infrastructure or urban density to provide a more comprehensive answer.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Meanwhile', and 'To sum up' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central idea. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the arguments is clear. To improve, the student could incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the transitions between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and functional, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. Phrases like 'preserve valuable land', 'accommodate multiple households', and 'substantial amount of capital' demonstrate a good grasp of topic-specific language. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a tendency to repeat certain words like 'building' and 'land'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to use more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic collocations to demonstrate a more flexible and precise command of English.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The use of complex sentences, such as 'Building only a single-storey house on an area such as one hectare can limit the availability of land...', shows a good level of control. However, the range of structures is somewhat restricted. To improve, the student should experiment with more varied sentence types, such as conditional clauses or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

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