Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Nowadays, very large cities face a shortage of housing because of rapid growth of population. Some people believe that the best way to provide homes by build tall apartments. To a large extent i agree with this topic.

The main reason i support this idea is that in the tall building there is many homes so many families set there. Instead of using a large area of land to construct separate houses, cities can build high rise apartments and provide homes for hundreds of families. This is useful in very crowded cities where land is limited and expensive as well. For example, cities such as Mumbai have many high-rise residential buildings because there is not enough space for traditional houses. Therefore, vertical development can help governments solve housing shortages efficiency.

Another advantage is that apartment blocks can make public service easier to provide. When many people live in one area, facilities such as public transport, schools, shops and hospitals can be developed nearby. This can reduce travel time and make city life more convenient. In addition, high-rise housing can help protect open land around cities because fewer areas are needed for residential construction.

However, I do not believe that tall apartments are the only solution. Some people prefer houses with gardens because they offer more privacy and space. Moreover, poorly planned high-rise buildings can lead to overcrowding, traffic problems and lack of green space. Therefore, cities should also consider low rise housing and suburban developments where suitable.

In conclusion, I agree to a large extent that building tall apartment blocks is one of the best ways to provide enough homes in large cities. They use limited land efficiently and can accommodate a large population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments for both the benefits of high-rise living and the counter-arguments regarding privacy and urban planning. The ideas are extended and supported with examples, such as the mention of Mumbai. To reach a higher band, ensure that your position is even more consistently maintained; while you acknowledge the drawbacks, ensure the link back to your main argument remains strong. The development is logical and sufficient for the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the efficiency of land use or the convenience of public services. You use cohesive devices like 'Therefore', 'In addition', and 'However' to guide the reader. While the flow is generally good, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the progression of ideas from the benefits of vertical development to the limitations is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'vertical development', 'residential construction', and 'housing shortages'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'provide homes by build tall apartments' (should be 'building') and 'set there' (should be 'settle'). While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of control and flexibility in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in the tall building there is many homes' (subject-verb agreement) and 'efficiency' used instead of the adverb 'efficiently'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are occasional slips. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct usage of word forms (adjectives vs. adverbs) to ensure your complex sentences are error-free.

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

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