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, providing sufficient housing for a growing population has become a major challenge. Some people believe that constructing tall apartment blocks is the best solution to this problem. I largely agree with this view because high-rise buildings can accommodate many people while using limited urban land efficiently. However, they should be combined with proper urban planning and adequate public facilities.

One major advantage of tall apartment blocks is that they make efficient use of limited space. Land in large cities is often expensive and scarce, making it difficult to build enough houses for a rapidly growing population. By constructing high-rise buildings, governments and developers can provide accommodation for a large number of people on a relatively small area of land. For example, cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully used high-density housing to accommodate large populations.

Another benefit is that vertical housing can help reduce urban expansion. If cities continue to spread outwards, valuable agricultural land and natural areas may be destroyed. Building upwards can therefore protect surrounding land and make it easier to provide essential services, such as public transport, schools, and hospitals.

However, constructing tall buildings alone is not enough to solve housing problems. High-rise apartment blocks can become overcrowded if they are poorly designed or lack essential facilities. Residents also need access to green spaces, parking areas, healthcare, and recreational facilities. Therefore, governments should ensure that new housing developments are well planned and provide a good quality of life.

In conclusion, I agree that tall apartment blocks are one of the most effective ways to provide sufficient housing in large cities. Nevertheless, they must be supported by careful planning and adequate public services to create comfortable and sustainable urban communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing the extent of agreement with the statement that tall apartment blocks are the best way to provide enough homes in large cities. The writer presents a clear position throughout the essay, stating a strong agreement balanced with the caveat that proper planning and public facilities are necessary. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning Singapore and Hong Kong. The arguments regarding land efficiency and urban expansion are extended logically across well-structured paragraphs. The task is answered comprehensively and effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear and logical organization with a natural progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction of the issue and the writer's stance, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs examining land efficiency, urban expansion, and the counter-balance of proper planning. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally, as seen with phrases like 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and skillfully to divide the different facets of the argument, ensuring the reader can easily follow the flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this academic task, demonstrating a good level of flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'sufficient housing', 'rapidly growing population', 'vertical housing', and 'sustainable urban communities'. Word choices are generally accurate and natural, though the vocabulary tends to be standard academic phrasing rather than exceptionally sophisticated uncommon items. Spelling and word formation are completely accurate throughout the entire response, ensuring seamless communication without any interference from lexical errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures combined with simple forms, demonstrating solid overall control. Examples of complex structures include conditional and participial clauses such as 'If cities continue to spread outwards, valuable agricultural land...' and 'By constructing high-rise buildings, governments and developers can provide...'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, with accurate punctuation and consistent subject-verb agreement. While the range of grammar is functional and effective for a Band 7 or 8, the complexity remains somewhat standard rather than stretching into exceptionally diverse syntactic territory, making a solid Band 7.5 appropriate here.

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

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