Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
These days housing has become a significant concern among individuals and families. In large cities enough housing can be made by building tall apartment buildings. I agree with this narrative that building tall apartment buildings is a solution for housing. I agree with this because it will provide some benefits however, some individuals might not be too keen about this idea.
Making tall apartment blocks provides numerous homes and have a fair low cost in comparison to houses constructed in the streets. People spend millions of dollars in constructional cost while building their dream homes, but with an apartment one does not need a hefty amount. Residing in apartments on rent is far more cheaper because roommates can divide rent. Flats are much preferred by people as the living space is less in contrast to a house it is much easier to maintain and convenient.
However, there are several people who may not agree with this opinion. Tall apartment buildings are not suitable for large families. As the number of people increase in comparions to the area size, it often gets too crowded and too noisy. Usually, large families prefer houses. There is another reason that people may not find it suitable for elderly. As there are numerous health problems, it is difficult for them to reside in tall apartment complexes.
To conclude that. I agree with this point of view of constructing tall apartment complexes will certainly provide a cheaper option of purchasing or renting it. The maintenance of apartments is easier in comparison to house. While some people having enormous families my not find it a suitable option. It may not be preferred by elderly concerning their health issues to reside in tall apartment complexes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear, albeit somewhat repetitive, position. The writer agrees that tall apartment blocks are a solution to housing shortages, offering reasons related to affordability and maintenance, while also acknowledging counter-arguments regarding crowding and elderly residents. However, the development of ideas lacks depth in places. For instance, the points about large families and the elderly are introduced but remain somewhat generalised without thorough exploration or concrete examples from personal experience. This places the response comfortably at Band 6.0, as all parts are addressed with relevant ideas, but some elements remain under-developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, addressing introduction, advantages, counter-arguments, and conclusion separately. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'however', 'in comparison to', and 'to conclude', though some linking is mechanical or repetitive, particularly the phrase 'I agree with this' in the opening paragraph. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within paragraphs sometimes stumbles, such as the abrupt conclusion sentence 'To conclude that. I agree with this point of view...' which contains punctuation errors and repetitive phrasing. Overall, the structural framework is sufficient for a Band 6.0 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'significant concern', 'constructional cost', and 'maintenance'. However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'fair low cost' instead of 'fairly low cost' and 'far more cheaper' which contains a double comparative. Other phrases like 'enormous families' are slightly unnatural in this context. While the student attempts less common vocabulary, inaccuracies in spelling, form, and collocation prevent the response from reaching Band 7.0, making Band 6.0 an accurate assessment.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over sentence structures. Examples of complex structures include concessive clauses ('While some people having enormous families...') and conditional ideas. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'have a fair low cost' (agreement error), 'As the number of people increase' (subject-verb agreement error), and punctuation issues like fragment sentences ('To conclude that.'). Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the argument without significant confusion. This profile aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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