Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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)

Whether providing high-rise buildings is the best way to address the housing shortage is debatable. In my opinion, tall apartments are more environmentally friendly and offer better housing options.

To begin with, cities with skyscrapers accommodate large numbers of people. This has helped eradicate housing problems in most cities, especially in developed towns. For example, a single tall building can house over 300 people. The knock-on effect is that environmental sustainability is achieved by striking a balance between people's needs and, the ecosystem, resulting in less deforestation and construction of stand-alone houses, which occupy more space. Therefore, building tall apartment blocks is the best way to provide homes.

In addition, building flats provides housing leverage. Building more high-rise buildings will provide enough accommodation for large cities. This means that people will live in buildings that are cost-effective and also convenient. For instance, people who live in apartments tend to pay more whilst maximising the benefits like easy access to housing, resources among others. However, tall buildings also have wider effects: not everyone can afford them because of high prices, and they require significant resources and time to construct, which can strain housing supply. This challenge, while real, is manageable through appropriate housing measures such as building structures within workable timeframes and renting them out at affordable prices to accommodate every interested individual.

In conclusion, to a larger extent, building tall apartment blocks provides homes in big cities while supporting the cities' housing pressure and the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the essay falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the ideas regarding environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness are relevant, they are somewhat under-developed. For instance, the argument about 'housing leverage' is vague and lacks a clear explanation of how high-rise buildings specifically create this leverage. The counter-argument is introduced but could be more thoroughly integrated into the overall stance. To improve, ensure you meet the word count and provide more detailed, specific examples to support your claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the progression of ideas within the second paragraph is a bit disjointed. For example, the shift from the benefits of high-rise buildings to the counter-argument about costs is abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider variety of cohesive devices would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at using less common vocabulary, such as 'eradicate', 'sustainability', and 'workable timeframes'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'housing leverage', which is not a standard collocation in this context. Additionally, the phrase 'pay more whilst maximising the benefits' is slightly confusing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that vocabulary is used in a natural, contextually appropriate manner.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally understandable, there are several minor errors, such as the unnecessary comma in 'people's needs and, the ecosystem' and the slightly awkward phrasing in 'supporting the cities' housing pressure'. The sentence structures are functional but lack the variety and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, work on incorporating a wider range of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, while ensuring that punctuation and subject-verb agreement remain accurate throughout the text.

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

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