Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-10
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)
As far as this topic is concerned, I would like to say that the way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartmentblocks,which has always been debatable and has now become more controversial with many people claiming that it is beneficial while others reject this notion. The substantial influence of this trend has sparked the controversy over the potential impact in the recent years. From my perspective, the former proposition appears to be more rational. This essay will further elaborate my views for favoring the positive or negative impact of this trend and thus will lead to a logical conclusion.
Analyzing the statement further, the primary reason behind this is that tall apartment blocks can provide accommodation for a large number of people in a limited area. As land is very expensive and limited in large cities, constructing high-rise buildings is an efficient way to use available space. Categorically discussing, it cannot be ignored that the main reason behind this is that especially in our country, it has far-reachicing consequences.apartment buildings can be constructed near public transport, schools, hospitals, and shopping centres, making daily life more convenient for residents.
Moving further, it is pertinent to mention that it is the basic duty of the government to provide a safe and stable society for the betterment of the public. It is imperative for the authorities concerned to look into the factor behind this issue and take a drastic action against the concerned persons.
To encapsulate, I would like to appeal to the learned figures to come forward, focus their gaze at this issue and launch a vigorous campaign to reform it across the society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt but fails to maintain a consistent argument. While you state that high-rise buildings are an efficient use of space, the second half of the essay shifts focus to a vague call for government intervention and 'drastic action' against unspecified persons. This is irrelevant to the prompt regarding urban housing solutions. The ideas are not fully developed; for instance, you mention 'far-reaching consequences' but do not explain what these are. To improve, ensure every paragraph directly supports your position on the specific topic of tall apartment blocks rather than introducing unrelated administrative or social reform themes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt, as the focus shifts from urban planning to a general appeal for government reform. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moving further' and 'To encapsulate', the connection between ideas is often mechanical or illogical. The final paragraph does not summarise the main arguments presented in the body but instead introduces a new, vague appeal. Improving the logical flow between sentences and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey basic ideas, using terms like 'proposition', 'imperative', and 'encapsulate'. However, there are issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'far-reachicing' is a spelling error, and the phrase 'focus their gaze at this issue' is unnatural. Additionally, the repetition of 'the main reason behind this is that' indicates a limited range of expression. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your vocabulary choices are consistently natural and appropriate for the context of an argumentative essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'apartmentblocks,which' lacks proper spacing, and 'far-reachicing' is misspelled. The sentence 'Categorically discussing, it cannot be ignored that the main reason behind this is that especially in our country, it has far-reachicing consequences.apartment buildings...' contains a run-on structure and a missing capital letter. While you attempt complex sentences, the control is inconsistent. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, correct punctuation, and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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