Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is often argued that high-rise apartment building is the most effective way to provide sufficient housing in large cities. I strongly agreed with this view because such building can accommodate large number of peoples while making efficient use of limited urban land, although other housing solutions can play a supportive role.

One major reason to support the construction of tall apartments blocks is that they can accommodate a large number of people within a relatively small area. As urban populations began to grow the amount of the available land in major cities become increasingly limited. For example a single high rise building contains a number of apartments, whereas the same number of homes built as detached houses would require considerably more land. Consequently, high-rise housing can help cities meet growing demand without expanding excessively into surrounding areas.

Another advantage is that high-rise developments can make urban infrastructure more efficient. When large numbers of residents live within concentrated areas, public transport, schools, shops and other essential services can be located nearby and serve more people. Admittedly, high-rise buildings are not suitable for every resident, and poorly planned developments may cause overcrowding or reduce residents' quality of life. However, these problems can be reduced through proper urban planning, adequate public facilities and the construction of well-designed apartments.

In conclusion, I largely agree that tall apartment blocks are the most effective way to provide housing in densely populated cities. They allow large numbers of people to live in limited areas and make more efficient use of urban land, although they should be developed alongside appropriate planning and infrastructure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear position ('I strongly agreed with this view') and supporting it with relevant arguments throughout the essay. The student considers both the space-saving benefits and the infrastructure efficiencies of high-rise apartment blocks, while also acknowledging potential drawbacks such as overcrowding and quality of life issues. Ideas are extended and well-supported, showing a clear line of reasoning. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction through to the conclusion. While some arguments could be explored in even greater depth, the response thoroughly satisfies the requirements of Band 7 by addressing all parts of the prompt with a clear and developed position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, beginning with the introduction of the stance, moving through two body paragraphs exploring specific advantages (space and infrastructure) along with a balanced counter-point, and concluding with a succinct summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, such as 'One major reason', 'Consequently', and 'Another advantage'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. Although referencing and transitional elements are occasionally straightforward, the overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, aligning well with the descriptors for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'concentrated areas', 'excessively', 'infrastructure', and 'urban planning'. There are some minor lexical inaccuracies and grammatical errors in word forms, such as 'agreed' instead of 'agree' in the introduction ('I strongly agreed'), 'tall apartments blocks' (pluralization inconsistency), and 'large number of peoples' (unnecessary plural 'peoples'). However, the vocabulary used is sufficient to communicate the main ideas clearly, and the occasional errors do not impede understanding. This performance is consistent with the criteria for a Band 6.5 or solid 6.0, fitting comfortably at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'When large numbers of residents live within concentrated areas...'). There are some noticeable grammatical errors, such as tense shifts in the second paragraph ('As urban populations began to grow the amount of the available land in major cities become increasingly limited') and missing articles or punctuation marks ('For example a single high rise building'). Despite these errors in grammar and punctuation, the majority of simple and complex sentences are constructed well enough that meaning is rarely obscured, and communication is never impeded. These characteristics place the response firmly in the Band 6 category.

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

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