Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12

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)

For individuals, few things are more crucial than having a home to live in. In many developed and developing countries, a substantial amount of money is allocated to the construction of tall apartment blocks, as this often necessitates the use of various resources. Nowadays, many would agree that contemporary society has nearly transcended its traditional boundaries and will soon become boundless in its pursuit of providing adequate housing for citizens. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that governments should prioritise the construction of tall apartment blocks as an effective way of providing sufficient housing for urban residents.

Naturally, building tall apartment blocks as a means of providing shelter is considered essential for people's lives, creating invaluable opportunities to improve living standards that are not always available through other forms of housing. Moreover, it demonstrates unparalleled benefits for people's lives, permeating and enhancing almost every conceivable aspect of urban life. Since people seek security and fulfillment through adequate housing, ample investment in building tall apartment blocks is imperative to elevate modern living standards. If this is adopted by governments and individuals alike, many people stand to benefit significantly. The construction of tall apartment blocks in nations such as Singapore and Japan, for instance, has emerged as a pivotal model for urban development, delivering improved housing opportunities for their people.

Under certain circumstances, governments may shy away from constructing tall apartment blocks due to a range of challenges, such as financial constraints, adverse environmental conditions, and a lack of proper planning. While constructing apartment blocks is widely embraced in major urban centres worldwide, governments in developing nations frequently contend with profound financial limitations when striving to implement this approach. Therefore, the notion of constructing tall apartment blocks is not always appealing. From economic, social, and national perspectives, if the goals of governments dictate that building tall apartment blocks is not merely an option but an imperative, they may choose to embrace it. Nevertheless, these challenges can be addressed through careful urban planning and appropriate government investment, meaning that the advantages of vertical housing remain more significant.

However, it is the responsibility of governments to evaluate the role of constructing tall apartment blocks and determine whether this approach will do more good than harm. Thus, it is evident that prioritising the construction of tall apartment blocks is beneficial for providing sufficient housing in large cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting a clear position agreeing with the statement that tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide enough homes in large cities. The writer develops ideas across the paragraphs, extending arguments with logical reasoning and a relevant, though slightly broad, example featuring Singapore and Japan. The position is maintained consistently throughout the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. While some arguments occasionally border on generalisation, the main task requirements for an Academic Task 2 essay are fully met. The response shows a good understanding of the prompt's nuances, effectively balancing the benefits of high-rise living with potential challenges like financial constraints and environmental factors. This aligns well with the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance in task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Ideas are sequenced logically, moving naturally from an introduction outlining the position, to supporting arguments with examples, addressing counterarguments regarding challenges, and finally concluding. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Therefore', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs, though occasional transitions feel slightly repetitive or dense. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct sub-topic. Referencing is generally clear and easy to follow. The logical flow supports the reader well, satisfying the criteria for a Band 7.0 in coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, employing less common lexical items such as 'necessitates', 'unparalleled', 'imperative', and 'pivotal model'. There is an awareness of style and collocation, though some phrases, such as 'transcended its traditional boundaries' or 'permeating and enhancing almost every conceivable aspect', verge on being overly elaborate or slightly unnatural in context. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, with only occasional minor inaccuracies that do not impede communication. The vocabulary deployed is solid and adequate for an upper-intermediate level, corresponding to a Band 7.0 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay utilises a wide variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences. The writer demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully deploying conditional structures, relative clauses, and multi-clause sentences such as 'While constructing apartment blocks is widely embraced in major urban centres worldwide, governments in developing nations frequently contend...'. Minor errors or awkward phrasings do occur occasionally, but they are infrequent and do not disrupt the overall communication of ideas. The punctuation is handled accurately, and control over complex syntax is well maintained, placing the performance comfortably within the Band 7.0 bracket for grammatical range and accuracy.

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