Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In many large cities, the demand for housing is increasing rapidly because of population growth and urbanisation. Some people believe that the best way to provide enough homes is to construct tall apartment buildings. I largely agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate a large number of people while making efficient use of limited urban land. However, they should not be the only solution.

The main advantage of tall apartment blocks is that they allow cities to house more people in a relatively small area. Land in major cities is often expensive and limited, so building horizontally requires a large amount of space. In contrast, a single high-rise building can contain hundreds of apartments without occupying much land. For example, cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore have used high-rise residential buildings extensively to accommodate their growing populations. This approach can also reduce urban sprawl and preserve land on the outskirts of cities for agriculture or green spaces.

Another benefit is that apartment blocks can make public services and transportation more efficient. When a large number of residents live within a concentrated area, it becomes easier for governments to provide public transport, electricity, water and other essential services. Furthermore, people living in high-rise buildings may have better access to workplaces, schools and shopping centres, which can reduce long daily commutes.

Nevertheless, relying entirely on tall buildings can create several problems. High-density housing may lead to overcrowding, traffic congestion and a lack of privacy. Some residents may also find apartment living uncomfortable, particularly families who need more space or access to private outdoor areas. In addition, poorly planned high-rise developments can put pressure on infrastructure and create an unpleasant living environment. Therefore, cities should also consider other forms of housing, such as medium-rise apartments, townhouses and well-planned suburban communities.

In conclusion, I largely agree that tall apartment blocks are one of the most effective ways to provide sufficient housing in large cities because they use land efficiently and can support better public services. However, they should be combined with other types of housing and careful urban planning to ensure that cities remain comfortable and sustainable places to live.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position ("I largely agree with this view") and providing well-developed arguments throughout the response. The introduction sets a clear direction, and the body paragraphs logically examine both the advantages of high-rise living, such as efficient land use and improved public services, and the disadvantages, such as overcrowding and traffic congestion. Specific examples like Hong Kong and Singapore are effectively utilised to substantiate the arguments. The conclusion nicely reiterates the student's stance while acknowledging the need for balanced urban planning. This demonstrates a high level of task response that fully satisfies the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct central theme, such as land efficiency in paragraph two, public services in paragraph three, and potential drawbacks in paragraph four. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively without being overly mechanical, as seen with transitions like "In contrast," "Furthermore," and "Nevertheless." Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately to separate different facets of the argument. Overall, the flow of ideas is smooth and the relationship between sentences is logical, aligning well with the Band 8 criteria for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range that is well-suited to an academic discussion on urbanisation. Words and phrases such as "urbanisation," "high-rise residential buildings," "urban sprawl," "concentrated area," and "high-density housing" are used accurately. There is a strong attempt to incorporate less common vocabulary with a good awareness of collocation. While occasional word choices might be slightly standard rather than advanced, the overall vocabulary is fluent and allows the writer to convey precise meanings. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the essay, comfortably placing this response in the Band 7 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, including conditional and participial modifications, used with a high degree of control. Sentences such as "When a large number of residents live within a concentrated area, it becomes easier for governments to provide public transport..." demonstrate excellent syntactic variety. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any minor slips are extremely rare and do not impede communication. Punctuation is handled correctly across all paragraphs. This level of grammatical control and variety strongly meets the Band 8 descriptor standards.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.